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Hi guys. I just bought a boker edelweiss and it has no jimps. The tang also feels much more rounded than Im use to so gripping it is definately more harder than I thought. My big problem came when I tried stropping with it. I try to turn it by the tang but the rounded grip makes my fingers just slide off and cant get a grip. Is this normal for razors with no jimps?
It depends entirely upon the overall shape and size of the tang. I have a couple of those razors and never noted any particular difficulty with stropping them. I would assume that with practice you will be able to strop it just fine.
One of the barber manuals recommends practicing the 'flip' without moving the blade up and down the strop. Master the flip before you actually begin to strop. Sounds like you are already stropping with razors with jimps ? Practice with the Edelweiss anyway. Might be the difference between a good edge, or a rolled edge and worse, a cut strop. :gl:
Thanks for your replies. As for stropping, Im still extremely new at it and I would like to know if your suppose to flip the razor using just your fingers on the tang or can I use my pinkie to help flip using the scales too. On a side note, I notice the faux ivory on my edelweiss is rather slippery. Is faux ivory a popular material for scales despite that?
I just want to clarify that I have not used it yet and am thinking of just getting a king cutter instead.
This might be a good practice for stropping :]
I tried to picture how I'd do it, and here's what came to mind:
1. Try changing your grip and pinch the SR at the pivot or near it. This way, you could control the position of the blade\scales, and achieve more control.
2. The rounded tang might be a good thing for an advanced stropper. As apposed to everything else in the world, stropping is not about the wrist, it's about finger-work. JimmyHAD said and I agree - practice only flipping.
3. You might use too much pressure. Take the rounded and slippery SR as a system that tells you when you put too much pressure. If you feel you're losing grip - just lay off the weight... Basically, get to a point where you simply lay your blade on the strop and find the sweet spot that works for you...
Also, pictures will help :]
Good luck!
Here you go buddy. Worth also talking about your scale positions - should be angled backward toward your palm
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html
My first straight was the Boker Edelweiss. I have managed to strop it just fine for years. Jimps are nice: given the choice I suppose I would have them, but you and I can both manage just fine without them. You have a nice razor. Nicer than the King Cutter. Use it, and you will grow fond of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponypox
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponypox
Well, I'm confused. If you are "extremely new to stropping," then how can you be "use to" any particular razor? If you have not used the Edelweiss, then how much stropping have you done with it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponypox
I stropped my other straight razor which has jimps around 15 times or so. I was trying to say that I was more accustomed to it. In hindsight, I guess thats not enough to be "use to it".
Thank you for all of your replies and enouraging words. :)
Thank you Cau. Did you have the version with bone or elforyn ivory? I have the elforyn ivory scales and it seems a little slippery. Is bone the same way?
I have a slightly off topic question. I read that tightening the pivot pins on ivory is risky. Is elforyn (faux) ivory the same way? Thanks.
I use all of my fingers. My thumbpad is on the bottom (narrow part) of the tang. The pad or fingertip of my forefinger is on the top of the tang opposite my thumb. The scales are gently resting on the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger. Those three don't assist in the flip as much as they support the scales and sort of stabilize things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponypox
If you need to tighten scales a very light weight ball peen, or similar is good. If you don't have anything like that a large tablespoon, using the rounded bottom will work. Tap lightly a time of two and check your progress.
Faux ivory, tortoise, what have you is popular. Keep your scales dry and it will help with the slipperiness.
King Cutters are actually really good razors. I've been actively using mine for over 3 years now and love it. Not sure you'll have more grip than an edelweiss though.
Real ivory scales are generally about half the thickness or less of a modern synthetic scale. Also, ivory has a definite grain structure and will tend to crack along it. When you factor in the age of ivory scales (often over 100 years) you can see that due caution is necessary. Your scales will pose no such problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponypox
Practice. I never noticed a difference because I always have pinched on the sides of the tang where there is no jimping