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Post by mjclark on May 12, 2014 15:48:32 GMT -6
I only recently became aware that the Ever Ready stropper existed and I initially thought that it would be of little use in the 21st century where SE blades are plentiful - a collector's item and no more. And then I remembered the excellent results from the automatic stropping mechanisms of the Rolls razor and Wilkinson Empire when the strops were pasted with ferric oxide, and things started to fall into place. PJGH kindly sent me an ER stropper, and using the Wilkinson Empire set strop pasted with ferric oxide, I stropped an 009 RD blade and loaded it into my new 1912 Brooklyn. The stropping had definitely given the blade some extra finesse, so will regular stropping on the pasted strop massively increase blade life and enhance the keenness of the edge? As Chairman Mao said about the effects of the French Revolution, it's still too early to tell...
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Post by wchnu on May 12, 2014 22:40:37 GMT -6
I am going to keep an eye on this. I have one if these stroppers somewhere. It will be interesting to see if it can be made functional.
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on May 12, 2014 23:27:30 GMT -6
You seem to be getting a lot of mileage out of the iron oxide. Let us know how this works out. It would be interesting to see how far you can stretch the 009 you mention above. These blades are Teflon coated though SE? They can be quite hard on the strops. Perhaps carbon would be a better blade choice?
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ShadowsDad
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"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
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Post by ShadowsDad on May 12, 2014 23:54:56 GMT -6
I'm fairly sure the 009 blades are carbon steel. (if I understood correctly)
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Post by mjclark on May 13, 2014 0:42:23 GMT -6
This a generic Personna 009 RD and definitely carbon steel.
The ferric oxide does seem to work very well with these proprietary blades, and it's gentle enough to be suitable for regular use but still fast enough to enhance the keenness and polish of the edge.
I get very different results with these blades than straights. With the straights, ferric oxide is too harsh and gives me a sharp but brittle edge whereas chromium oxide makes for a lovely smooth keen finish. With the Rolls, Wilkinson and SE blades however, the chromium oxide gives a harsh edge and is too fast for regular use anyway, but the ferric oxide is just right.
Also it gives the initial experience of the blade becoming smoother and sharper with each shave. Like magic!
I have this same ferric oxide stropping regime with Rolls razor, Wilkinson Empire and now ER 1912, so we'll see how far each blade can go just on the pasted stropping
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norfolkdick
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Post by norfolkdick on May 13, 2014 2:55:21 GMT -6
Greetings
I would like some advice please. I have an Ever Ready Stropper that came with my Streamline set and I have several stops that will fit in it including an Ever ready one. I really fancy having another go at stropping some carbon blades (my previous attempts with an undressed strop were hopeless) My problem is I have no Ferric Oxide paste and having now spent the last 40 minutes searching e-bay and the web in general I am frankly confused regarding Ferric oxide powder, paste in a tub, something in a spray container etc etc. Can you advise me please and where to buy it in the UK and how much of it you apply to the strop.
You can tell from this post that I am not a straight razor user so my knowledge of abrasive pastes and how they cut/polish is minimal.
Regards Dick.
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Post by mjclark on May 13, 2014 5:27:30 GMT -6
This is the powder you want: m.ebay.co.uk/itm/221433401228?nav=SEARCHFirst condition your strops with a lot of hand/face moisturiser or after shave balm (remember they are made of skin!) and let it really soak in overnight. The next day, massage any excess in and off with the palm of your hand. Then take a half-pea sized amount of the feox powder and mix it with a few drops of baby oil to make a thick paste. Paint this onto the strops - it's very messy, gets everywhere and a little goes a long way. Again, leave overnight to soak in, then wipe any excess off with a paper towel and you're good to go! The sparser the final coat of feox is the better the effect, so don't worry about rubbing it off too hard. It will be really interesting to hear other people's experiences with this. It's been suggested that in the past, most people relied less on honing and more on pasted strops to keep blades sharp, so perhaps this really has been the missing link to understanding these stroppers!
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norfolkdick
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Post by norfolkdick on May 13, 2014 7:12:06 GMT -6
Greetings Marcus
Very many thanks for the advice!.........Ferric oxide ordered and three of my better strops 'moisturised', I'll keep you updated how I get on.
Regards Dick.
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on May 13, 2014 10:41:28 GMT -6
You are making this pretty hard to resist Marcus. So, I don't think I will any longer.
This sounds like fun! You have definitely got me keen to give this a fair go.
And... Dick.....you are responsible for pushing me over the edge with your getting the details and the enthusiasm....darn you enablers!
FeOx ordered. : )
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Post by mjclark on May 13, 2014 10:50:12 GMT -6
Great stuff guys! It will be really interesting to compare results.
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on May 13, 2014 12:26:54 GMT -6
Ok. Where's that darn postman already? It has been almost two hours! I am ready!
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Post by PJGH on May 14, 2014 0:32:04 GMT -6
I don't even have any FeOx, but stropper at the ready
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Post by mjclark on May 14, 2014 0:49:20 GMT -6
I don't even have any FeOx, but stropper at the ready Go get some ferric oxide Paul! You won't regret it. Lush handles on them ERs too
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Post by drumzalot on May 14, 2014 16:56:24 GMT -6
Interesting thread Marcus (as always). I don't strop razors blades and because of this I don't have any experience doing so. I do own a mint Gem stropper that I got for free (it was thrown in with a razor purchase). I keep it as a complete package with my Gem Junior Bar. Paul, I love those handles!
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Post by PJGH on May 14, 2014 17:35:05 GMT -6
Cheers, pal. I call this set a 'Little Streamline' in the same way the 1914 is a 'Little Lather Catcher'. It's a British 'Bathroom Set'.
Now, your stropper right there is something to behold. I've seen these in Waits' Compendium and seem similar in Kampfe sets. Cracking piece!
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