Things about stropping I learned the hard way

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05-28-2009, 01:48 AM
Johnny J

Things about stropping I learned the hard way

A public service announcement, in no particular order:

-- Leather is a burnisher, not an abrasive. Linen is a much more aggressive burnisher than leather, and will go a long way toward renewing an edge.

-- If you can feel the edge catching the nap of the linen at the end of your stroke, the linen is eating the edge off. It's amazing how fast it will do this. Use a lighter touch, and begin lifting the razor off before the end of the stroke, while it is still moving.

-- If you have a light to normal beard, try 50xLeather before each shave, and 20xLinen + 50xLeather to restore an edge that's just starting to dull. If you have a heavy beard, try 20xLinen + 50xLeather before each shave. If your beard is the steel-eating nightmare from the blackest depths of hell, try 20xLinen + 50xLeather before each shave, and 50xLinen + 50xLeather to restore an edge that's just starting to dull.

-- You can't over-strop. (well, maybe you can if you have OCD and do 1000 laps, but really, you can't over-strop). If the linen is failing to restore your edge, there's no harm in trying more laps.

-- You don't need linen right after you've honed, leather is sufficient.

-- The 3 rules of stropping are: you need a light touch, you need a light touch, and you need a light touch.

-- If you have a strange fetish for huge meat chopper wedges as I do, even the weight of the razor is too much pressure. I said a light touch!

-- Pull the strop tight. Do not allow slack. For strops that have a linen & leather attached at one end, I always leave the bottom one (the one I'm not using) very slack to insure that all the tension is on the top one.

-- Don't try to go fast. Strive for good technique & consistency. The speed will come when it comes.

This has been a public service announcement
05-28-2009, 04:09 PM
Thechef

Very true and good explinations
05-28-2009, 05:04 PM
woody743

When you say "linen"s wool linen? or is any fabric strop considered linen?:thinking:
05-28-2009, 11:03 PM
Johnny J

I believe linen is made from flax. The only linen I have ever used came with an old strop I bought off ebay. I've been told that canvas, and even seatbelt webbing, work about the same, but I haven't verified it myself.
05-28-2009, 11:39 PM
mparker762

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny J

-- You can't over-strop. (well, maybe you can if you have OCD and do 1000 laps, but really, you can't over-strop). If the linen is failing to restore your edge, there's no harm in trying more laps.

I've done 1000+ laps in one session, and failed to over-strop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny J

-- You don't need linen right after you've honed, leather is sufficient.

And you don't need a fine-grit polishing hone or chrome oxide after you come off the 8k, linen is sufficient.
05-29-2009, 12:49 AM
Smoothy

I really really should have read this post before stropping my Dovo Prima Silver Steel for the very first time in anticipation of my own very first shave with a straight razor. Really. Most steps, I did ok, but I guess I did not put enough emphasis on 'a light touch'.. Oh well, a new strop is on the way. We live and learn....
05-29-2009, 03:47 PM
jcd

Every video I've seen, including the two in wiki, show at least some presure being applied. The strop is curving a little under the blade.

When I pull my strop tight and apply little pressure, the strop doesn't curve at all. I have to applly a little pressure or slack the strop a little to get some slight curving. I don't have enough experience to judge the effects of my stropping though.
05-29-2009, 06:02 PM
Rajagra

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcd

Every video I've seen, including the two in wiki, show at least some presure being applied. The strop is curving a little under the blade.

When I pull my strop tight and apply little pressure, the strop doesn't curve at all. I have to applly a little pressure or slack the strop a little to get some slight curving. I don't have enough experience to judge the effects of my stropping though.

If it doesn't curve at all then it is defying the laws of physics. Mathematically speaking, applying a lateral force to a straight strop gives infinite "leverage" to the force. It is only after the strop is bent to form a "V" shape that its tension is converted to a force that can resist further deflection.

I'm sure the camera angle makes all the difference to how it looks in the videos.
05-29-2009, 06:10 PM
jcd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Mathematically speaking, applying a lateral force to a straight strop gives infinite "leverage" to the force. It is only after the strop is bent to form a "V" shape that its tension is converted to a force that can resist further deflection.

OK, that was funny :roflmao

I suppose it does curve a little then, but not as much as I see in the vids. It's possible that the camera angles are deceptive; I cant judge.
05-29-2009, 10:36 PM
thebigspendur

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny J

I believe linen is made from flax. The only linen I have ever used came with an old strop I bought off ebay. I've been told that canvas, and even seatbelt webbing, work about the same, but I haven't verified it myself.

Probably we need Tony M to chime in on this however I think that though classic Linen is made with flax I don't think the newer strops are. I think its pretty much cotton with a weave to emulate the old stuff.

Most seat belts are all synthetic stuff probably nylon or nylon blends.
06-02-2009, 05:57 PM
13thentity

I'll agree with the light touch. I stropped the edges off of 2 razors after a 36 hour stint of being awake. I don't know why I had the bright idea to shave, but regardless now I will have to hone the razors to restore the edges. :nono:
06-02-2009, 08:00 PM
Howard

I've got a number of good horsehide strops - including a new condition Torrey made in Worcester, MA - and I find myself using them less and less. Why? I've adopted the jointing (or "breadknifing") technique at the end of honing on a 30k Shapton followed by three very light strokes into the edge. After that, it doesn't seem to need stropping. Interestingly, the three jointing strokes I use leave progressively lighter stains on the white Shapton and that's how I know to do the three light drawing strokes.
06-02-2009, 08:46 PM
Rajagra

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13thentity

I'll agree with the light touch. I stropped the edges off of 2 razors after a 36 hour stint of being awake.

I was once a bit stressed out while stropping 2 razors at my desk. I absolutely stropped the bejesus out of them. Remarkably I don't think it did any damage (I doubt it did any good either.) But I'll tell you this, it sure was a good way to work off some tension, and it showed those razors who was boss! :)
06-04-2009, 01:57 AM
Johnny J

I've seen those videos too: old master barbers who have been srt8-shaving folks for 100 years, stropping on loose, slack strops at 300 mph.

Clearly, what these guys are doing works even though it is technically "wrong," kind of like Jeff Healy playing the guitar by laying it flat on his lap. These old barbers are doing something in the wrist that compensates for the slack strop; something I do not comprehend & can't identify or replicate.

If you're a noob, stick with the technically "correct" way: tight strop, light pressure. There are obviously other ways that work, but I couldn't tell you how to do them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcd

OK, that was funny :roflmao

I suppose it does curve a little then, but not as much as I see in the vids. It's possible that the camera angles are deceptive; I cant judge.
06-04-2009, 08:04 AM
m0isty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny J

I've seen those videos too: old master barbers who have been srt8-shaving folks for 100 years, stropping on loose, slack strops at 300 mph.

Clearly, what these guys are doing works even though it is technically "wrong," kind of like Jeff Healy playing the guitar by laying it flat on his lap. These old barbers are doing something in the wrist that compensates for the slack strop; something I do not comprehend & can't identify or replicate.

If you're a noob, stick with the technically "correct" way: tight strop, light pressure. There are obviously other ways that work, but I couldn't tell you how to do them.

I think they may be pushing/pulling the spine into the slack strop quick enough for the part behind it to be pulled softly upwards onto the edge. Sort of riding a leather wave maybe?
I'll bet that edge is being ever-so-gently tickled into perfection...
06-04-2009, 08:25 AM
onimaru55

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0isty

I think they may be pushing/pulling the spine into the slack strop quick enough for the part behind it to be pulled softly upwards onto the edge. Sort of riding a leather wave maybe?
I'll bet that edge is being ever-so-gently tickled into perfection...

That kinda describes it pretty well, wave riding in reverse :) It is about the push/pull bias with the spine but it's not about speed, it can be done slowly too. The spine does slightly curl the leather while the edge trails on a flat surface but it's not for beginners. Too easy to pressure the edge.
06-04-2009, 08:30 AM
ndw76

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny J

-- You can't over-strop. (well, maybe you can if you have OCD and do 1000 laps, but really, you can't over-strop). If the linen is failing to restore your edge, there's no harm in trying more laps.

My wife would disagree with you. I love to strop my razors when I have nothing else to do and she will complain that I am playing with my razors again. It hasn't done any harm to my razors, but my wife thinks I have OCD.
But then again, maybe I do, maybe I do, maybe I do.
06-04-2009, 10:01 AM
jdurango

Thanks a ton! I'm about to start stropping/straight shaving in the next couple days and will definately take this into consideration.

I too have seen the videos where it looks like people are pressing down with a good amount of pressure on the strop. Maybe they have the ninja stropping skills that only come with years of practice. In the mean time, I'll stick to the "correct" way.....

To make another musical reference, there is a saying when you begin learning classical music theory, that once you've learned the rules, you can break them....and then, little by little, you morph into a jazz musician =)

Those old school barbers are the jazz musicians of straight shaving!

:rock: