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I recently purchased a hanging strop with my first razor.
Would it be alright to lay the strop on a desktop while stropping?
On a different note:
When shaving, which is easier to clean the blade during passes, a large sponge or a cloth?
Take care,
Jason
Yes you can! Just watch the rise where the brackets raise the ends. I have always just used a washcloth on edge of sink or a shaving towel over my shoulder to wipe the blade!
Yes on the strop. Depending in the surface, you may be able to drape the rest off the edge, which will help hold the part on the bench flat. I use a damp sponge to wipe my blade when it needs it, but I also dip it under running hot water when it needs it, usually when I switch hands. I should add though that I have a high rise bathroom faucet.
You see Jason, the smooth and comfortable shave is the only "rule". There are recommendations like keeping a low angle on the blade while shaving, but as long as you get a good shave...who cares how you got there!Quote:
Originally Posted by realdog4
You definitely can lay a strop on a flat (!) surface. I still do it when I'm using my travel strop (which is smaller).
About the cloth\sponge: as said before me, it really depends on you :] There are no rules :]
But beware of two things:
1. Cutting your finger in a very nasty way.
2. Dulling your blade - wipe the blade very carefully, in a straight motion of the blade downwards. no zig-zags, no funny stuff. If you ask me, running hot water serves me best :]
You can lay the strop on a flat surface to strop your razor. It's the same principal as using a strop block. I use a loom strop I bought from Straight Razor Designs but it was pricey. As far as wiping it off, I prefer a clean towel as it works best for me.
I always rinse mine under the faucet. Personally, I recommend taking an old beater razor and slamming it into the faucet to see what a faucet can do to a razor. That will help you be cautious so you never do it with a good one. I didn't learn my lesson that way, but I wish I had.
Thanks guys. I always value your input. I sometimes ask questions that seem fairly intuitive but I rather be safe than sorry.
Take care,
Jason
Jason,
Yes, you can strop flat on a desktop. Just make sure the blade lies flat on the strop. I am curious, though, why you don't hang your hanging strop. As for wiping the blade during the individual pass, I use a standard wash cloth and it works well.
Since I shave after I shower, I just wipe/strop it down on the towel I'm wearing to clean it.
I haven't gotten brave/stupid enough to shave naked... :o
I learned a long time ago in the Navy: The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by realdog4
No problem with a strop on a flat surface, you just made a really big paddle strop :-). Everyone's preference will be different, but I started with just running hot water to rinse. I put a very tiny chip in the blade with the faucet. Small enough that it took a jeweler's loupe to see it, but I was horrified on the new razor. I honed it out easily but wanted a another way to clean the blade. I went to a cloth like a barber does, but I was cleaning the cloth a lot. Then I saw a guy on a video using a sponge. I picked up a 3 dollar sponge at the supermarket and the sponge works great.
So now I clean the blade using a large round sponge. I have also been working hard to get both hands working well and I feel a little more secure cleaning the blade with the non-dominant hand using the sponge. It was 'leftie' who touched the faucet for the tiny chip. The sponge is better for me.
Best,
Ed
criswilson10, what are you talking about? You strop your razor on a leather strop before & after you shave. I don't understand what you're saying. You don't strop it on a towel.
The OP asked two questions:
1- one about cleaning the blade while shaving,
2- the other about putting the strop on a horizontal surface.
Ed
He uses a stropping action on the towel to clean off the lather. I do this at the end of a shave, prior to stropping. I also just delather my razor during the shave on my forearm. I never rinse my razor, but that is just me.Quote:
Originally Posted by engine46
Ok, I can understand that. He just has his wording messed up where I couldn't understand. Thank you! Sorry Cris.
I use a sponge so no extra water is required, less chance of wetting the pivot or dinging the blade near the sink
Before I switched to a paddle strop I would use a spring clamp to secure the strop to the counter and apply enough tension to keep it flat. My stropping results improved immediately.
Clearing lather - I have such acute "razordinkaphobia" that I use a damp washcloth with a one third fold, hinge side to the counter. I remove most of the lather with the afore mentioned stropping action. For safety I close the razor between passes so I clear the blade with a single sheet of bath (toilet) tissue before closing. Re-lather then fold another third to expose a clean surface and continue. One final rinse with hot water.
If you are old enough to have had a shave or had your neck and hairline edged with a "real" straight you will have noted that the barber never turned to the sink. My Uncle and Grandfather would have a barbers towel, either on their shoulder on on yours on top of the drape. Every turn and step was extra time.
For me this was one of the changes that helped me learn to use a straight. The pause to rise breaks the rhythm (for me)
And ultimately you do what works best for you.
For me - each time I make that first ATG pass starting at the base of my neck - I am 10 years old again, and that sensation reminds me of my Uncle shaving the back of my neck, and I do not have to be told to be still...
Smooth shaving my Brothers...
Yes you can but the hard part is holding it flat with all the hardware and secondary strop if it has one.
I use a length of Para cord looped around an open doorknob this will put your strop at waist level.
I also rinse the blade with running water and wipe with a microfiber towel or just use a damp microfiber towel. A dry Micro fiber will also keep your hands, scales and tang completely dry during the shave, keeping water out of the pivot.
At the end of the shave, I do 2-3 hot water rinses and wipes with the microfiber, it will remove 99 percent of the soap, skin, hair and blood from the bevel and edge, just be careful wiping the edge.
I buy microfibers in bulk at big box stores for less than a dollar, (12 buck for 15 or 16) toss them in the wash with your towels and you will always have a pile of them ready to go. After a few washes they get more absorbent.
I also use a high goose neck sink faucet, getting the faucet well away of the area where most accidents happen. A 200 dollar investment will save many a razor and they look nice.
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I have hung a strop on a doorknob as well until I got my loom strop.
I saw the same or similar video where the gent was using a large round sponge.Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHutton
Where do you find those?
On a side note:
My girlfriend saw my strop for the first time and gave me the evil eye. She thought it was a strange device for more private matters.
I explained everything so now she just thinks I am nuts. Looks like everything is back to normal.
- Jason
A strop can be for private matters too...:hmmm:
Don't dull the moment when using alternate methods
There ya go Cris, now you're talkin'!
Realdog the sponge I have was a large hourglass shaped car washing sponge with the fine bubble finish I just cut it in half for home then in half the other way for my travel kit sponge
Just cleaned up the cuts a bit and all is good
You can get a natural sponge from a craft store, or Wally Mart in the craft section or a body bath type store.
Or try a synthetic tile sponge from Home Depot and cut to the size, they are super absorbent and are about 5X10 inch.
I purchased a big round sponge from Krogers (supermarket) in Chapel Hill. It has a stout hemp cord through it that makes hanging it on the tub spout to dry rather easy.
I rinse the sponge out well after every shave. Once or week or so I microwave the damp shaving sponge to make sure nothing is growing there.
I like many of the other suggestions. I've used a tile sponge before for tiling. I think that would work well and there are Home Depots pretty much everywhere in NC.
Best,
ed
