Thread: Check My Strop

https://youtu.be/wJ9qaSihR8s

I'm about 2 weeks into straight razor shaving, and I'd greatly appreciate some pointers on my stropping. Unfortunately the mentor in my area is a too far for convenience.

--(Sorry about the youtube link, but I can't seem to post the video directly to the thread.)--

Basic info: Ralf Aust 5/8" blade, 3" SRD Latigo leather strop with poly webbing

I go for 15-20 on the poly webbing first then 40-60 on the leather.

How's my stroke? Sound good or bad? ​Thanks!

How do you like your edges after stropping. If your shave's are smooth with no pulling or tugging I would say your technique is good.

You are correct to focus on stropping, it is the first step in edge care and maintenance - and shaving with a SR is all about the edge...

Some very basic suggestions and this is all very very YMMV/personal.

Raise your mounting point to something at or higher than waist level. I found that learn to strop "level" easier that going up or down hill so to speak.

Try to learn how to roll your blade with your fingers and not by rolling your wrist. This takes a while to master but helps to allow you to keep the spine in constant even contact (critical)

If it helps, you can hold only the strop or webbing/fabric - letting the other piece hang.

Another learning step was to use a spring clamp to hold the strop on top of the counter, clamped up at the swivel end. You still need tension with your free hand but you take the too much/too little tension question out of the equation - turning your hanging strop in to a bench strop.

For many there are strong audible cues as they strop so it might help to dial down the background noise.

It's frustrating to learn until it comes together. Then it becomes (for many) a relaxing break in the day.

Hang in there...and Smooth Shaving..

Looks pretty good to me. I would use less of the strop. You look to get pretty close to the ends when you flip, it doesn't take much to hurt an edge.

As Above.Your using way to much wrist action,JMO

As mentioned your wrist is flipping your razor which could lead to rolling the edge, most of the action should be with your fingers. There's a great video in the SRP library by AFDavis11 that demonstrates close up the flipping part.
Practice with a butter knife till you get your technique down.
Lastly listen to the sound your razor makes, it should be constant and equal on both ways of a lap.

Try stropping with your eyes closed and just go by feel. Someone posted that a little while ago and it has helped me a great deal. It forces you to concentrate on the amount pressure you use.

Looks like you're on the right path.

2 stand out things are a low attachment point for the strop and heaps of wrist movement. You almost want no wrist movement at all. As Mark said the AFDavis vid is a really good guide. I think it's a sticky at the top of the stropping forum

Alright so I need to work on stopping the wrist movement and pivoting with my fingers instead. I have noticed I need to reset my grip after so many strokes because it skews. I checked AFDavis's video, so I'll work on that.

As far as low attachment point for the strop, unfortunately that's the nature of my setup. The counter is low, so I'm not sure what I can do about that...? Some other standalone device I can attach it to?

I just assumed using the full length of the strop was normal, but you know what they say about assuming. I'll cut down my stroke length as well.

As far as sound goes, I think it's audible in the video, but I could be wrong. I can tell my stroke is off though because sometimes I get a nice full sound, then other times it's all across the board. I've found it sounds better and more consistent on my return stroke which I'm afraid has to do with the uphill angle of my strop - an unfortunate result of my low mounting point it would seem.

... Onward and upward

Will all come together in time,looks like you have alot more room to go up on that cabinant,Just an observation,put on some slippers