Thread: Feeling like I HAVE TO shave

Dunno why that is now with my str8 razor..I get a little less anxiety when prepping and starting...when I was using DE/SE handles it felt like I was just going through my motions to shave because im a guy and thats what we do (most of us;-P). Now I just touch up with my handles n primarily use my str8 razor everytime and I think I am inching my way and getting closer..anyone ever recall in Hollywood how the barbers would strop their str8 razor(s) with the blade edge slightly downward at an angle then flipping to the other side of the blade's edge....well..thats kinda how my wife showed me to do..instead of flipping the spine ..does the blade have to be stropped with the blades spine on the strop..then flipping back on the otherside of the spine?..personally I am stropping with the blade with a firm grip on the handle and the blades edge facing the handles where I hold the strop tight (black Latigo 3" from SRD)..then flip the blades edge facing upwards but lightly going downwards (make sense?)...yes I for months watched vid's and read all I could find b4 starting str8 shaving...I just wanna know im stropping properly

3 week str8 shaver
pcdad

Originally Posted by pcdad

anyone ever recall in Hollywood how the barbers would strop their str8 razor(s) with the blade edge slightly downward at an angle then flipping to the other side of the blade's edge....well..thats kinda how my wife showed me to do..instead of flipping the spine

You should be rolling over the spine. There are some that strop differently, but generally speaking the most recommended technique involves flipping the razor over the spine

..does the blade have to be stropped with the blades spine on the strop

Yes, you should have contact on the spine when you strop. This will help you maintain the correct contact angle and reduce the chance of rolling your edge.


personally I am stropping with the blade with a firm grip on the handle and the blades edge facing the handles where I hold the strop tight (black Latigo 3" from SRD)..then flip the blades edge facing upwards but lightly going downwards (make sense?)

Not really, are you talking about holding the handle of your strop or your razor.. if you are talking about the razor, you should be holding the razor on the tang (not the scales)

...yes I for months watched vid's and read all I could find b4 starting str8 shaving...I just wanna know im stropping properly

Here is the thing... and please don't take this the wrong way, but most of the vids I've seen cover the questions you are asking (as I understand them anyway). Almost every reference you'll find in the wiki and the videos here (with the exception of the livi vids maybe) instruct you to strop by holding the tang of the razor, keeping contact with the spine, flipping over the spine etc. I'd check the wiki section again and give everything another once over.
pcdad

I'd recommend the following link for your reference.

Stropping

Yes I always hold the razor by the base metal area firmly when stropping..what's the difference between stropping on the spine and the way I described I was doing?

Pcdad

Originally Posted by pcdad

Yes I always hold the razor by the base metal area firmly when stropping..what's the difference between stropping on the spine and the way I described I was doing?

Pcdad

Well, I'm not 100% sure about what you are doing... I don't have a clear picture of it from what you've written...

But just to answer your question about whether or not the razor needs to be stropped with the spine touching, the answer is yes the spine needs to be in contact with the strop during the stroke.

Here is an excerpt from the link I provided earlier under the "common mistakes" portion.

Lifting the spine
When stropping, it is important to focus on maintaining good steady contact between the strop and the spine of your razor. Because the point of stropping is to maintain the edge of the razor, it is common to focus so much on the edge that maintaining good contact between the spine and strop is neglected. Lifting the spine causes more pressure to be applied to the edge and can damage the cutting edge of the razor. It is helpful to think of the edge as just being along for the ride. As the edge trails along behind the spine, it will make contact with the strop effectively if you maintain good constant, even contact with the spine and strop. It is much better to do laps without the edge touching than it is to do laps without the spine touching. Focus on the spine to avoid this mistake.

now, this doesn't get into some of the problems with not maintaining spine contact... but it does get a basic idea across. For example, another problem may involve not maintaining consistent angles during your strokes.

Originally Posted by pcdad

what's the difference between stropping on the spine and the way I described I was doing?

If I understand you correctly, you are emulating the way barbers in a movie strop their razors. Think for a moment -- those people are not barbers -- they are actors in a movie. They do not have any idea how to properly strop a straight razor. You should not be emulating them -- you should be emulating the SRP members who provided the stropping videos.

The reason you need to roll the razor on its spine when stropping is to prevent any undue pressure on the razor's edge. The edge is thin and fragile and easily damaged. If you "roll the edge" (damage it while stropping), it will be too dull to shave with and you will have to send the razor out to be professionally honed.

Another reason for rolling the razor on its spine is to protect your strop. The way you are stropping puts your strop at risk of being nicked or cut.

When you strop, make certain that both the spine and edge are in equal contact with the strop using almost no pressure at all. And be certain to roll the razor on its spine at the end of the stroke.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

hmm..Interesting response(s)...
My wife who showed me how she saw her grandfather strop'd his str8 razor..but when she thought back to it..he also rolled the blade along the spine really quick and she thought he never did what you guys r suggesting....next month I will be fortunate enough to receive his str8 razor which he was given from a Red Army Officer in Russia while he was having his appendix removed many years ago as a teenager..now his razor sat dormant in his droor for 55yrs until I told him I got into str8 razors and then he felt content to let me have it..he told me he will hone it as he does have the tools but I think I will test it or just send it out to get hones by a pro..today he rarely shaves with his 5 blade plastic razor and is 73yrs young!
(G*d bless the man)...pics to follow next month!...Still...my str8 razor makes me wanna shave..like its a gravity pull..lol

pcdad

Originally Posted by pcdad

next month I will be fortunate enough to receive his str8 razor which he was given from a Red Army Officer in Russia while he was having his appendix removed many years ago as a teenager..

...Still...my str8 razor makes me wanna shave..like its a gravity pull..lol

Congratulations on receiving such a wonderful family heirloom!

And +1 about the gravity pull (smile). I never enjoyed shaving until I began using a straight razor a few months ago. And now I look forward to my special time in my shave den.
Namaste,
Morty -_-