Newbie advice on stropping required

I have a new 5/8 Dovo straight razor and a W. Claubert 1/2 that I inherited from my great-grandfather that isn't really sharp enought to shave with. I'm using a Dovo strop like this

I have read widely on this forum and other websites so I think I understand the principles. I always strop with the cutting edge trailing and turn the blade over its spine, as I'm new at this, I strop very slowly.

I started on the Claubert (so it didn't matter if I dulled the blade) and didn't have any problems so figured I could move to the Dovo. When I strop the Dovo, I'm seeing fine lines in the leather side of the strop on each turn, almost as though I'm cutting it. I haven't cut the strop yet but am concerned that if I do, it'll be ruined.

I don't believe that I'm pushing the blade once I've turned it for the return stroke, but that's certainly what it looks like.

The Dovo is plenty sharp enough to shave when I've finished.

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.

It could be that you are putting too much pressure on the point causing it to scratch your strop.

Scott

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Originally Posted by Savage

I have a new 5/8 Dovo straight razor and a W. Claubert 1/2 that I inherited from my great-grandfather that isn't really sharp enought to shave with. I'm using a Dovo strop like this

I have read widely on this forum and other websites so I think I understand the principles. I always strop with the cutting edge trailing and turn the blade over its spine, as I'm new at this, I strop very slowly.

I started on the Claubert (so it didn't matter if I dulled the blade) and didn't have any problems so figured I could move to the Dovo. When I strop the Dovo, I'm seeing fine lines in the leather side of the strop on each turn, almost as though I'm cutting it. I haven't cut the strop yet but am concerned that if I do, it'll be ruined.

I don't believe that I'm pushing the blade once I've turned it for the return stroke, but that's certainly what it looks like.

The Dovo is plenty sharp enough to shave when I've finished.

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.

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Unfortunately it seems to be VERY easy to cut a strop. In my experience, either I cut it or I feel the stropping is too light/not good enough (a classic noob mistake).

There is a video that shows slow motion stropping, I think. But when I do slow stropping, that is when these fine line cuts seem to happen. Fast stropping, of course, led to a huge cut on my practice (thanks Tony!!) strop.

The secret is that while stropping, you should already be going in the reverse direction once you start flipping the blade. Or at most, halfway thru the flip, you should be going the other way. [1]

If you start going the other way only when completely flipped over, you will cut the strop, if the razor is sharp enough.

[1] The downside of this is that when I do it, the blade never gets very long to be flat against the strop, since I'm almost done with the return stroke by the time the blade touches again..

I'm new to this, so take this fwiw, with a grain of salt.

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Originally Posted by nichhel

The secret is that while stropping, you should already be going in the reverse direction once you start flipping the blade. Or at most, halfway thru the flip, you should be going the other way.

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I think this is a bad description.

I would say you should still be traveling when you begin to flip the razor over its spine and don't stop or change directions until the edge is in the air. Then begin traveling back just before you place the edge back down in the other direction. Changing directions too soon could make it flip and cut the strop. Try using creative visualisation for each half lap. It'll help slow you down and focus on all the things you need to be attentive to.

X

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Originally Posted by nichhel

There is a video that shows slow motion stropping

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Thank you xman, nichhel and honedright for your advice and feedback.

It's great to be part of this community - my wife thinks I've gone mad and remain convinced its only a matter of time before I slit my throat. My friends think this marks me out as an old codger along with my interest in classic wooden yachts and cane fly rods (I'm in my 30s).

I've looked for all the video I could find here, on You Tube and other sites and all of it was really quick. Does anyone know where to find the video nichhel mentions - if so would you mind posting a link?

Once again thank you.

Savage,

You may have seen this already:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...tropping&hl=en

It's of honedright stropping. The first part of the video is slow enough to see what's going on, I think.

James.

Hi and welcome Savage, I live just down the road from you. :)

If you haven't already, I'd recommend you check out Lynn's DVD as well as the free videos which are available. It's about the best resource going for folks starting out with straight razors, and covers most of what you'll need to know.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=7412

UK shipping is $2.75.

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Originally Posted by Steelforge

Hi and welcome Savage, I live just down the road from you. :)

If you haven't already, I'd recommend you check out Lynn's DVD as well as the free videos which are available. It's about the best resource going for folks starting out with straight razors, and covers most of what you'll need to know.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=7412

UK shipping is $2.75.

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Hi Steelforge,

Thanks for the steer to Lynn's DVD - its ordered and on the way.

I had the same issue last night with an strop that I got from ebay....

the line that you are seeing in the strop is left by the spike end of your razor?

I think the only problem is that you need to lubricate the strop, maybe it is too dry to be used......

that lines looks like the ones that you can do it with your nails over your arm if you have a dry skin?

Regards

For some one new to straight razor shaving it takes awile for all the components to fit and work. The thing that was hardest for me when learning was rolling the razor in my fingertips and keeping it light. For a few nights or days, whenever you get a chance, just get a dull old razor and "practice the roll".

You can do that anywhere, in front of the tv, anywhere. Just lay the razor on your pants and practice the roll.

It makes stroping a lot easier when you can roll the razor.