Thread: The Ponderings of a Beginner

I will have to look at what I'm doing but I don't think I'm dragging the edge of the strop or putting extra pressure on the edge at the end of a stroke. If anything, I tend to lift the edge off as I begin to reach the very end of the stroke, flip it and lay it down as I begin the next stroke.

I have to admit, I get a little confident today and went less observantly than normal. I'm sure it's the root cause of the problem.

As to the linen. I simply have never had luck with it. I always seem to dull the blade but, the barber manual recommends it so I'm going to try it again.

Thanks for the analysis guys, I can't shave until at least Monday moring so I will review your comments carefully.

Let's see:

Stropping method -

1. hold strop taut (no sagging) so that the strop is approx. parallel to the floor
2. Place spine on strop near the swivel (in other words, top of strop)
3. gently roll razor on spine until the edge is in contact with leather
4. draw razor, heel leading slightly, toward bottom of strop
5. right near the end of the stroke, roll edge off the strop to roll razor into position to start the return stroke
6. place edge flat as return stroke is starting (the whole point is one continous, fluid motion between strokes so the blade never stops and starts except for the beginning and ending of stropping session
7. repeat for return stroke
8. continue until done stropping

Pressure = just enough to keep the razor flat on strop and to feel draw

I'm starting to notice that for the first few strokes, draw doesn't happen. After the first few, I start to feel draw (drag) of blade and when I raise the edge to flip, I get a little "Puh" sound (think releasing vacuum seal)

Originally Posted by steve

I'm starting to notice that for the first few strokes, draw doesn't happen. After the first few, I start to feel draw (drag) of blade and when I raise the edge to flip, I get a little "Puh" sound (think releasing vacuum seal)

Are you stopping your stroke before you start rolling the razor over on the spine? If so, then the fin is probably biting into the leather, and the puh sound is the fin being plucked as it comes out. This will dull your razor. I think there's a "Lynne's Tips" on this.

You should start the flip before the razor comes to a stop, and not complete the flip until the razor is heading the other direction.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Are you stopping your stroke before you start rolling the razor over on the spine? If so, then the fin is probably biting into the leather, and the puh sound is the fin being plucked as it comes out. This will dull your razor. I think there's a "Lynne's Tips" on this.

You should start the flip before the razor comes to a stop, and not complete the flip until the razor is heading the other direction.

No, you and others had helped me earlier because I was stopping the razor before flipping. I now do this in one motion and the razor never comes to a stop until I am done stropping completely.

Until now, it had been a great help that moved my stropping results forward by leaps and bounds. this leads me to think I just got careless due to overconfidence.

I'm basically doing what you've said (which I bolded)

Here's a lesson I've just learned: Don't get cocky. I was doing pretty well and think I got so confident in my developing skills that I just plain didn't pay attention and now, I'm having to fix mistakes that shouldn't have been made.

I think I'm almost back on track though.

One more thing. Even through all of these problems, I have decided that I'm liking the short diagonal strokes. There is just more control for me as regards skin stretching and also just in the ability to make a comfortable cutting stroke.

Since everything blew up in my face thanks to me being a complete dolt, I consider this closed and failed.

Oh, no. That doesn't sound good. Take it easy partner.

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