Bad stropper? Wet stone hone? - Newbie Question

Hello everyone. Thanks for checking out my post. I'm a newbie and I need some advice. My razor is pulling quite a bit and doesn't feel as sharp as it should be, to my novice face. Arm hair test works ok, but needs a little pressure. Hanging hair test fails. Here are my questions:

1) The razor is new and was shave ready. Could I be stropping wrong? Is there supposed to be a "shing" sound as I strop? I'm being careful not to roll the blade and trying to keep even light/medium pressure through the strop.

2) I have a wet stone (barber's hone). Should/could I take a light few passes to set things in the right direction, then strop?

Thanks so much for your help. If I have posted in the wrong area, my apologies.

Best,
CW

Depending on the source, if it started out shave ready as you say, learning to strop has probably dulled it. Correct stropping can often remedy this, but not always.
As for how it should sound, it varies entirely on the strop, & the grind, & even the steel type, so it's hard to advise.
Fast stropping is more effective, but you're asking to damage the strop, & maybe even the blade, so go slow, but do a few more laps to compensate.
Watch a few videos. Unfortunately, the guys are usually getting around 80 laps per minute, so seeing the process is quite hard, but you will get some idea of a few of the sounds!
Hopefully Seraphim doesn't mind me posting this, but his stropping video may help you.

As for the stone, if correct stropping doesn't sort it out, have a go. Worst that will happen is that you have to send it out for honing, which you'd have to do anyway. Contact the seller & find out if they used tape on the spine first, so you can replicate. Try 10 laps with what feels like so little pressure it's pointless. Strop carefully & test shave.

IGNORE the HHT at this stage. It's of no use to you.

Hi,

It took me a bit to get the stropping down correctly. For me I had to be deliberate about my motions. The idea is to actually strop the blade not go through the motions blistering fast. So I'd push the spine away then stop roll on spine then draw toward me briskly. repeat. I've been slowing picking up speed.

While do this keep the strop tight but not so tight it puckers in the middle.

- Mike

Thanks for the replies! I have a double strop (two on one ring). One is like a nylon webbing and the other is the standard leather. It just hit me that I have two strops on there. Am I supposed to be using the webbed one then the leather one? I have seen a video with someone with this type of setup but wasn't sure if I should be doing a two process strop.

Also, I think I have been pulling too tight as it looks like it wasn't hitting in the middle because it was buckling a bit.

Thanks again for all the info.

CW

Quote:

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Originally Posted by the1andonlycw

I have a double strop (two on one ring). One is like a nylon webbing and the other is the standard leather. It just hit me that I have two strops on there. Am I supposed to be using the webbed one then the leather one?

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Hi CW,
It's not required to use the fabric strop. In truth, there is no scientific evidence that it is helpful. However, there is much anecdotal evidence that fabric strops are useful.

I have a Rup Razor Paladin double strop. A 2" canvass strop connected to a 3" horsehide strop. When I was first learning how to strop, I only used the leather strop. Once I became comfortable stropping and I could see that my stropping was keeping my edge keen, I began stropping on the canvass strop as well. What a difference! Stropping first on canvass definitely makes my shaves more comfortable!

I usually go 25 - 30 strokes on canvass followed by 30 - 60 strokes on leather. Start with that or follow someone else's recommendation. Sooner or later you'll decide for yourself what works best for you.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Morty

Hi CW,
Stropping first on canvass definitely makes my shaves more comfortable!

I usually go 25 - 30 strokes on canvass followed by 30 - 60 strokes on leather. Morty -_-

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Does your canvas strop have anything on it, or is it just plain/dry?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ziggy925

Does your canvas strop have anything on it, or is it just plain/dry?

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It's just a plain strip of canvass, as Ken Rup made it.

You should not put any strop paste on your daily strop. Pasted strops are not used for daily stropping; they are for touching up an edge that no longer can be kept keen with regular daily stropping on leather or fabric/leather.

If you use a pasted strop for daily stropping it will wear away the edge. My understanding is that it will make the bevel convex, making the next honing more difficult.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

I have the same KR strop. Nothing on it or the canvas, but I probably don't use the canvas strop as much as I should. Thanks for the info.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by the1andonlycw

Hello everyone. Thanks for checking out my post. I'm a newbie and I need some advice. My razor is pulling quite a bit and doesn't feel as sharp as it should be, to my novice face. Arm hair test works ok, but needs a little pressure. Hanging hair test fails. Here are my questions:

1) The razor is new and was shave ready. Could I be stropping wrong? Is there supposed to be a "shing" sound as I strop? I'm being careful not to roll the blade and trying to keep even light/medium pressure through the strop.

2) I have a wet stone (barber's hone). Should/could I take a light few passes to set things in the right direction, then strop?

Thanks so much for your help. If I have posted in the wrong area, my apologies.

Best,
CW

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When I started, I purchased a shave ready razor from the Classifieds and gradually dulled it via my ineffective stropping. I have since learned how to strop and have purchased another shave-ready razor from the classifieds....which works great. Been meaning to touch up the old razor with a pasted strop, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Where did you get your razor from? Sadly, some sellers advertise as "shave ready" when they really aren't.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by the1andonlycw

Hello everyone. Thanks for checking out my post. I'm a newbie and I need some advice. My razor is pulling quite a bit and doesn't feel as sharp as it should be, to my novice face. Arm hair test works ok, but needs a little pressure. Hanging hair test fails. Here are my questions:

1) The razor is new and was shave ready. Could I be stropping wrong? Is there supposed to be a "shing" sound as I strop? I'm being careful not to roll the blade and trying to keep even light/medium pressure through the strop.

2) I have a wet stone (barber's hone). Should/could I take a light few passes to set things in the right direction, then strop?

Thanks so much for your help. If I have posted in the wrong area, my apologies.

Best,
CW

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I did the same thing. So far I think I improved it by stropping properly. i had to pay close attention so I didn't loose contact with the strope or flip it on the blade.

I know I messed up two perfectly well honed razors by stropping too hard, and too loose. Only in the last month or 6 weeks, have I finally figured out that all I'm trying to do when I strop is basically to polish and smooth the edge, not really change it. So I'm doing more strokes, but just barely keeping the edge on the strop. Going slower, but not too slow.

Already the last several shaves have been notably more comfortable.

It's funny how correct stropping isn't really hard or complicated, but it is something one has to learn.