Thread: Am I going in the right direction?

Ok thanks.

Oh I just found out I've been using a extra hollow straight. Do you all use the same extra light touch for stroping these that works for honing?

Matt

Any time you strop you only need enough pressure to hold the razor securely on the strop. Pushing down on the leather can cause the edge to roll on your razor. Watch some vids. What your looking for is pushing the spine of the razor down so that the leather wraps around the spine some. Some people call this burying the spine. But when the edge goes across the leather the leather is flat coming off the edge. So leather is never wrapped or rolled across the edge.

More hollow razors are what I enjoy most of all. Some like the big heavy wedge razors. But keep in mind that the more hollow the thinner the steel. The thinner the steel the easier it is to flex the razor's edge. That is where time comes into play. Learning how much weight you can put on an edge before it flexes.

If you keep at this and honing don't sweat it. In two years you will have it figured out.

Well put Jerry. Many people put this way, "Strop the spine and the edge goes along for the ride." An extra hollow especially has a very thin edge that will roll easily. It all takes time. Fortunately for you Matt you seem very determined and analytical. That will work to your credit. Two years seems like a long time but if you think about it in the grand scheme of things it is pretty fleeting.

I didn't know stropping was so technical

for me

razor leather swish swish and repeat 40 on cotton then 40 on leather after my shave. 60 cotton and 100 leather before my shave.

1/4 inch from my stomach and if I get hair plinking I'm happy

I try not to overthink, just listen and if you hear a scraping noise you doing it wrong
I aim for pretty much silence on the strop

Thats the problem Steve. A new guy wants details on how to strop. After years its just swish swish to us.

Good point Steve. If you hear that sound like ripping paper then your leaning back on the edge too much. It really does become second nature after a while. If you ask me about stropping I have to go strop a little because I don't really think about it.

Hay all
I did a oil pre-shave versus not last night and can't tell the difference as well.

About stroping, any speculation on what happens with a more traditional bury the spine vrs holding the strop tight and using a light touch?
I will try as recommend and I like to know why.

Thanks
Matt

Doesn't matter what type of grind the razor is, the shaving edge is the same. The same care is necessary.

Originally Posted by outback

Doesn't matter what type of grind the razor is, the shaving edge is the same. The same care is necessary.

I agree with this, IMHO I find it easier to damage a big wedge than I do a dainty extra hollow. Like the weight of the wedge use to trick me into using more pressure, and just being overall more aggressive with the razor. Where as a hollow feels light and delicate, so for me, it's far easier and more intuitive to use light pressure and to be more delicate with it. I've found using the same pressure no matter the grind works best for me. YMMV.
-Laramie-