Thread: Does Stropping Speed Matter?

I've read a few posts saying that stropping speed does matter. The faster the better. What do you guys think? Does it really?

The reason I ask is that I'm a very slow stropper. I have a paddle strop from Tony Miller, and I concentrate on accuracy more than speed. I can't seem to have both.

i voted Yes as i think that you need a certain amount of speed to get the best results, but i don't think that the faster the better is something i completely agree with. technique to me is very important also but i think that the speed has a burnishing effect on the edge that makes the very tip stronger while the stropping itself realigns the edge.

i could be wrong, but i'll never admit it

I think that the faster you strop the better, but accuracy is more important. What do I vote? My poor brain hurts!

There is a desirable speed range as it it possible to strop either too slowly or too quickly

Also, I like the poll question well designed, I feel

This is the ugly intersection of theory and practice, floorpizza. A paddle strop, while maintaining a much flatter surface than a hanging strop, also has the drawback of not having any "error absorbtion". It's hard to strop effectively on a paddle strop just as fast as you can on a hanging strop.
The error absorbtion is this: if you slightly tilt your razor to the side with a hanging strop, the strop surface typically leans with the razor, up to a point. That means when going fast, you don't have to worry about maintaining perfect levelness with your razor.
if you are using a paddle and lean the razor a few degrees, you aren't making full contact with the bed of the strop any longer. Instead, you are stropping on the edge of the leather, and that's no good. Kind of the same reason why we bevel the corners of our stones.

Also, since a hanging strop has a bit of give up and down, it's able to compensate for slight changes in pressure, when letting up a little or pressing down a little.

So, with a hanging strop you get a measure of tolerance in the up/down and left/right tilt directions.

The give of a hanging strop can be likened to the shocks on a car - it makes up for any little bumps in the road so everything is more comfortable and smoother. Big bumps are still not so good. However, if you had the suspension of a BMW M3 LTW that has been totally set up for track use, it will definitely be more precise (like a paddle strop), but the ride will be unforgiving and you will feel every teensy bump in the road, kind of like the princess and the pea story.

If you want to be able to strop really fast, get a hanging strop. From all your posts, we can tell that you have common sense, and that's 99% of what you need to be able to use a hanging strop properly. Plus, the accuracy thing is easier to achieve on a hanger than it might seem.

My paddle strops are relegated to travel and pasting use only. My hanging strop is my everyday.

So my vote is both; it's easier to strop fast on a hanging strop, and you get just as much 'accuracy' as you can on a paddle.

As a pilot, if you had to calculate all vectors by hand, would you take your calculations to 0.0000000000000000001 resolution or 0.00000000001 resolution? the 0.0000000000000000001 might be more accurate, but taking it to the hundred-billionths place ( the number with less zeroes...) is more resolution than you will need unless you are making intergalactic flights. Same with a straight. A paddle might be more accurate, but a hanging strop can get you as far as you'll ever need. If a paddle strop produced a better shave and was easier, Tony miller wouldn't be making these things called "hanging strops"

Well I voted for faster since I think most people don't appreciate the need to improve. I guess from an accuracy standpoint, I've yet to miss the strop, except that one time I shaved drunk back in '80.

I voted yes, as I do believe that faster is better. But the poll questions imply that speed reduces accuracy. Not in my case.


Scott

Originally Posted by Ben325e

This is the ugly intersection of theory and practice, floorpizza. A paddle strop, while maintaining a much flatter surface than a hanging strop, also has the drawback of not having any "error absorbtion". It's hard to strop effectively on a paddle strop just as fast as you can on a hanging strop.
The error absorbtion is this: if you slightly tilt your razor to the side with a hanging strop, the strop surface typically leans with the razor, up to a point. That means when going fast, you don't have to worry about maintaining perfect levelness with your razor.
if you are using a paddle and lean the razor a few degrees, you aren't making full contact with the bed of the strop any longer. Instead, you are stropping on the edge of the leather, and that's no good. Kind of the same reason why we bevel the corners of our stones.

That is the exact problem I'm having. I have to concentrate so much on keeping the edge completely flat on the paddle that I just can't get any speed.

Well, shoot... I guess the only thing left to do is print your post, show it to the wife, feign exasperation (*sigh* "Sorry, honey, looks like I have to buy a strop"), and visit Tony's site again.

Originally Posted by honedright

I voted yes, as I do believe that faster is better. But the poll questions imply that speed reduces accuracy. Not in my case.


Scott

Good point. I shouldn't have worded the responses that way.

Speed without sacrificing accuracy. Of course if you do I guess you'll either cut your strop or roll your edge. I started off going for accuracy and let the speed come as my skill progressed.