Thread: Stropping

I didn't know I was honing well enough to shave comfortably until I got the the hang of stropping well.
I overhoned a few edges before figuring out my stropping was the problem.

Originally Posted by The Topher

I couldn't possibly agree more that the importance of stropping is under emphasized everywhere. I regularly have to rehone a razor that is freshly honed and I know is sharp because newbs eiither strop wrong or don't strop enough. There used to be a study on here and there might still be that said around 50 or 60 laps is what maximizes the life of a razor and it is common knowledge that a strop should be taught but not over taught cause it can curl the strop and ruin the razor yet it is not often said to newbs. Also the pressure should be no more than that needed to deflect the strop 1/8 to 1/4 in inches. Newbs should spend more time practicing stropping with a butter knife because the razor may be sharp but it won't be comfortable or stay sharp without proper stropping technique.

So, is there some slight pressure you are supposed to apply? Or are you just trying to glide the razor along with just the blade weight?

I'm using a TM starter strop and am just trying to glide the razor along it as lightly as I can. Should there be a tiny amount of downward pressure component?

Alan, thank you so much for this post!! It prompted me to really put aside the paddle strop and practice on the horsehide hanging strop I have.

Today, I had the most comfortable shave with the sharpest razor I've had to date after 8 months of daily shaving with a straight.

60 laps on the horsehide for a Dubl Duck Dwarf given to me for free from a local older barber. I knew it was sharp because 1) I didn't hone it , he had years ago. 2) After stropping, for the first time ever, I've now had a razor that easily lopped one of my very fine blond hairs in half on an HHT (previous to this I've ALWAYS had to use my wife's hair for HHTs, even with shaving sharp razors, my own hair simply never would do it). Virtually no resistance anywhere on my face when shaving this morning. I was able to use the lightest touch when shaving. Truly a pleasure (also the first time I've used a spike point and....no probs).

One thing that really helped me in eliminating nicking my strop: I printed off the page in the archives from the barber manual and deciphered the hand written notes from the student's book. He had written something about the razor should remain in contact with the strop at all times during stropping. I do this now and...no more nicking.

Very cool. Thanks again. Man alive is that DD Dwarf sharp!

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chrisl

He had written something about the razor should remain in contact with the strop at all times during stropping. I do this now and...no more nicking.

I try very hard to do this, and it can be difficult at times because I naturally want to pull the blade away from the strop. But yeah, I work hard at rolling the razor on the spine and leaving it on the strop.

+1 to that, and congrats on the good shave!

~Chris

Originally Posted by Seraphim

So, is there some slight pressure you are supposed to apply? Or are you just trying to glide the razor along with just the blade weight?

I'm using a TM starter strop and am just trying to glide the razor along it as lightly as I can. Should there be a tiny amount of downward pressure component?

I have the TM starter strop as well, but in using it on my door knob I think I messed up my edge because it was hard for me to not have any bend or torque in the strop. Now I place the strop on my kitchen counter which is waist height and strop with it that way - I guess that's more like a paddle strop. . . but the results have been better for me. YMMV

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

I try very hard to do this, and it can be difficult at times because I naturally want to pull the blade away from the strop. But yeah, I work hard at rolling the razor on the spine and leaving it on the strop.

+1 to that, and congrats on the good shave!

~Chris

Yes, the two things that have really helped me are keeping the razor in contact with the strop AND keeping my wrist stationary also mentioned in the barber manual.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chrisl

AND keeping my wrist stationary also mentioned in the barber manual.

Right - using only the fingers to flip the razor?

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

Right - using only the fingers to flip the razor?

Yes, wrist stationary and using only the fingers to roll the tang and....just like in the photo in the barber manual, I keep my thumb on the tang flats; I used to pinch the tang on the edges (where the jimps would be located). I figure, the barbers knew what they were doing and it worked for them.....and it's working for me.

Chris L

Excellent post. Someone else posted a thread recently with regard to the term "Stropmeister." I will admit, I had a vague idea what my technique should be, but I never felt the difference from stropping until recently when I learned to do it correctly. There is a huge difference, and I mean HUGE, between a stropped edge and a non-stropped one. With my fine hair, it is the difference between HHT and no HHT. It literally feels as if it becomes sharper. And as mentioned above, I had been getting irritation ATG until stropping correctly, and now it's smooth like butta.

I would certainly vote for a "Stropping 101" thread stickied that compiles information from this thread and others (especially the 30 vs 60 trials and Stropmeister).

Originally Posted by skiblur

Excellent post. Someone else posted a thread recently with regard to the term "Stropmeister." I will admit, I had a vague idea what my technique should be, but I never felt the difference from stropping until recently when I learned to do it correctly. There is a huge difference, and I mean HUGE, between a stropped edge and a non-stropped one. With my fine hair, it is the difference between HHT and no HHT. It literally feels as if it becomes sharper. And as mentioned above, I had been getting irritation ATG until stropping correctly, and now it's smooth like butta.

I would certainly vote for a "Stropping 101" thread stickied that compiles information from this thread and others (especially the 30 vs 60 trials and Stropmeister).

Maybe we'll start seeing stropping services on SRP?.

No, that's the one thing learned early on: honing can be paid for especially when new but every one of us must learn to strop effectively in order to shave effectively. Stropping is definitely under rated and there's not enough focus on it........this is a start!

Chris L