Beginners Tips: March 2011

[gssixgun]

Strops / Stropping

I did a little thinking about this months Beginner Tips, and decided that this needed to be written...

First thing to address is this question from almost every beginner

What Strop should I buy???

This is normally answered by 10 different recommendations mostly for a piece of leather that is in the shape of a strop and that is Cheap, with the following reason.. "Your going to nick you first strop so buy a cheap one"

Although I can't really argue that logic (because it is true) it also is misleading.. I had to think back nearly 30 years to my first strop, and yes I nicked it up.. Then I stopped, and learned how to strop correctly and slowly... I also didn't have a resource quite like SRP to help me out...

OK you say but you nick the strop

Yep, and here it is after 30 years of service, (only strop for 26 years) still usable BTW I just cleaned the linen up... This is my first strop an Illinois #835







Now many of the more senior members will explain that you can do quite a bit of edge work if you have a dual component strop... In fact they say "Stropping is King"
Over the past few months I have been doing some honing checks from some of the guys out there that have learned to hone, and want to see what their edges feel like to a more experienced member... So I test shave their edges, and see what is what.. One thing we have all learned, is Stropping is way more important to a smooth shave then many think..
And a quality dual component strop used correctly can be a huge equalizer to how smooth a shave feels...

One statement we have all decided on is that the proper term for holding a hanging strop should be "Taut" not tight It really does make a difference


Now I am not suggesting you spend a fortune here either but there are plenty of good quality dual component strops in the $30-$60 range...
Remember this will improve every single shave

Beginning stropping...

First off you have to learn "the Flip", stropping is easy, the flip is not...
When you start lay your strop on the edge of a table or counter that eliminates the sagging problem... Watch these Vids of Alan/afdavis stropping and watch his flip he is soooooo smooth...
START SLOW, really slow, and practice slowly to learn the flip.. Watch your Forefinger top knuckle, and try and move it the least amount possible as you flip... That keeps your wrist from doing the work... You shouldn't even hang the strop for at least 2 weeks worth of shaves...
There is only one trick to stropping, use just enough pressure to keep the spine moving evenly across the strop... Don't worry about the edge it will follow along behind, pay attention to the spine...
About 1 full second for each direction is a good starting pace maybe a touch slower..

Honestly I don't own a strop that I use regularly that doesn't have a nick in it... I have showoff strops that I use occasionally that are about perfect
Worry about learning to strop correctly, not nicking the strop because you are going to nick one.. A pumice stone or some sandpaper fixes it pretty good...

Strop On !!!!

Here are some different strops that hang around my shave den...

SRD Premium #1 my personal everyday strop





Craftsman Timber tanned a showoff strop





Nichiri Pelican a showoff strop





Illinois #827 My after honing strop