Thread: Stropping sound

I'm throwing this out there in case anyone else has experienced something similar and have a trick on how to fix it.
When I strop away from myself, I get a nice sing-noise from my blade. Then after rolling (on the spine) and bringing it back, I get a dull noise most of the time.
I have to try several times to get the sing-noise.
I'm not sure if I'm trying to roll with the fingers too much (and failing) or if my wrist should be doing more of the flip...
Either way, it's like on the way back, more often than not, it's just the spine making contact, and the blade is just barely off of the leather.
I know "no pressure" is a mantra for stropping, so I'm worried that I'm gonna overcompensate.

Anyone have any tips for the wrist/fingers during the flip?

It's a longshot, but what the hey.

It's like the old quote"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"

PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE!

Maybe it should be more toward "light pressure"as you do need to put just enough twist on the tang to make sure it contacts the strop.

First, let me say that strops have a directional nap, so varied sounds are not that important. I don't get them, but by themselves are not indicitive of a problem (by themselves).

Next, if your having problems I recommend keeping your thumb off the razor/shank all together. Your thumb can lift the spine off the leather, then keep the thumb off the shank. This will force you to twist your wrist a bit, but that is okay. A little pressure is okay, but it can't be against the edge. If the thumb touches the edge side of the shank that is baaaaaaaaad.

The sing-song sound is often associated with bad stroping, I think, depending on the grind of the blade. Could you be stopping mid stroke? Are you nicking the strop?

How does the draw feel? Got any draw?

You can go slow, lift the edge with the thumb, get the thumb off, then move the razor down the strop, then flip. Once the edge is airborne you can set up for the next stroke. Thumb off the shank and move the blade down the strop. Do not move the razor edgewise when its on the strop, you'll nick it. So that is stroke, lift, reset your thumb position. Stroke, lift, reset, etc.

Check out this excerpt from a barber manual in the SRP Wiki help files here. Past the section on honing, which is also very instructive, you'll find a couple of pages on stropping that I found very helpful for me.

The flip is meant to be carried out by the finger's, not the wrist.
I have to turn my wrist a little though, & it's not having a negative affect on my stropping.
It's hard to assess the noise without hearing it. It may be nothing to worry about, or you may be lifting the spine a little.
No pressure's not quite right. The pressure should be minimal, but you need to keep the blade in contact. Keep things slow to start & the speed will come with time.

The singing blade is usually an indication that you are lifting the spine a little. Slow down a little and pay attention to the flatness of the blade.

bj