Newbie Stropping Practice

**fatpanda** · 07-09-2009, 03:12 PM

Hi All,

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can comment on my developing stropping technique. I want to learn how to do it right!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFV-8_erg7M

**fatpanda** · 07-09-2009, 03:14 PM

Anyone know how to get the YouTube video in the post?

, DISREGARD, See ABOVE...

**JimmyHAD** · 07-09-2009, 03:26 PM

Here is a barber's manual excerpt from the SRP Wiki Help files that has been very helpful to me. I particularly liked the suggestion to practice flipping the razor between thumb and fore finger without moving the arm at first. Some fellows use a butter knife to get the hang of stropping in the beginning as you won't have to worry about cutting your strop if you miscue.

Whatever you do start slow and steady with little pressure. Any pressure ( you do need some) is applied to the spine and the edge is gently laid onto the strop as you make passes. I like 50/50 linen and leather.

**FloorPizza** · 07-09-2009, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by fatpanda

Anyone know how to get the YouTube video in the post?

Just paste the entire URL for the video into your post.

**hi_bud_gl** · 07-09-2009, 07:06 PM

You are some kinda talent find out that stuff to hook it up etc and training. i would say only 1 suggestion try it you will get benefit from it. You holding blade etc is great . Need add this .
when you flip the blade free your thumb and use it to flip over the blade not your wrist.
Think about this your wrist is a robotic hand and cannot be turned.should stay still just using your thumb turn the blade . Let us know how is your progression.
hope this helps

oops after watching video i have to add a little more sorry. i saw you are trying to do x pattern and again reverse it. what i mean.
when your blade close to your body heel of the blade should rest on the leather?if you check what are you doing heel of the blade off the strop. Remember always when you start point doesn't matter close to your body or away from it heel touch the strop but tip could be off the strop ok? (of course depends on size of the strop too. )hope this help and i am clear enough you could understand what i mean.gl

**Bruce** · 07-09-2009, 07:17 PM

Oh, oh. I appears that I have been blithely stropping incorrectly for all these many strokes.

I haven't gone from tip to heel for my X pattern stroke, I've been doing the X from heel to tip. Y, I dunno, at the time it just seemed right. I'll have to break out the mea culpas and do some self flagellation.

Revelations like this could drive a fella to drink

Scotch, today, I think.

**fatpanda** · 07-09-2009, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

oops after watching video i have to add a little more sorry. i saw you are trying to do x pattern and again reverse it. what i mean.
when your blade close to your body heel of the blade should rest on the leather?if you check what are you doing heel of the blade off the strop. Remember always when you start point doesn't matter close to your body or away from it heel touch the strop but tip could be off the strop ok? (of course depends on size of the strop too. )hope this help and i am clear enough you could understand what i mean.gl

Ok, I will try to keep my wrist from moving and free my thumb... I think I understand what you are saying about the X-pattern in regards to having the heel of the blade on the strop when the blade is close to my body. I will make the improvements and post a new video!

**fatpanda** · 07-09-2009, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Whatever you do start slow and steady with little pressure. Any pressure ( you do need some) is applied to the spine and the edge is gently laid onto the strop as you make passes. I like 50/50 linen and leather.

I noticed that I was putting more pressure on the down stroke (towards my body). I think this was because I held the newspaper strop at a downward angle and the weight of my arm combined. I will try to keep even pressure to get the same sound on the upstroke and downstroke. Thanks for the manual link, really cool!

**fatpanda** · 07-09-2009, 10:55 PM

Ok, After looking at the Standardized Barber's Text, and the suggestions by hi_bud_gl. ROUND 2!

YouTube - stropping practice pt. 2

**AFDavis11** · 07-09-2009, 11:59 PM

It looks pretty good to me. Looks a little lighter too. Here are two things I suggest based on what I see . . .

You can easily see the length of the strop and where the string ties to the strop. Use that knowledge and compensate for the speed of your stroke at the end. It looks like your sweeping into the tie down without consideration for where it is. You can see where it is, you've got to flip up in that region. If your strop were longer you'd be able to learn to "downshift" a little before you get to the turn around. Its like making a car go around a turn. You don't go in full speed and then slam on the brakes.

In the first video, more than the second, your using too much pressure at the top, again near the tie down. The physics are difficult to explain but the tie down is a fixed spot so ANY pressure at that spot rolls the edge. In the middle you can do whatever you want but the tie down requires a slow, no pressure, light, danty, delicate, soft, roll; followed by a soft landing, then the return trip, and pick up speed again, until the next turn by your fingers.

Hope that helps . . . your stropping well. Since you went to the trouble to post that great vid I thought I'd critique you very strictly.

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