Thread: stropping question

You've got some great advice here. The sound is a consequence of stropping not the goal of it. Horsehide strops make no sound at all no matter what you do. Just strop correctly to get the result you need and if you get a sound you like well, that's just icing on the cake.

Gil,

As long as the edge is in contact with the strop, the spine is also touching and you aren't using excessive pressure you should get good results. It's generally a good idea to use light pressure, but I find that sometimes using a little more pressure at the start, then lightening up during the remaining laps helps on some razors. That pressure can come in the form pressing equally on spine and edge, or by "torquing" the blade edge into the the strop slightly like you describe. On one razor I actually keep the spine about a millimeter above the strop while very lightly touching it with the edge, but that's a special case.

Like mainaman said, it's a good idea to take your time and not be concerned about speed.

Cheers,
Jeff

I've read one or two threads about the "right" sound when stropping, but being hard of hearing I don't pay much attention to those threads. But I am interested in what is considered a "good" sound with regards to this thread and anyones thoughts on what stropping sounds like.

The only sounds I usually hear are a high pitched swishing or a lower pitched swishing. That and a constant ringing from Tinnitis