Stropping feels like its going to get expensive

**cadomniel** · 09-13-2010, 01:37 AM

I also found stropping much harder than it looks. after one week my strop was just mangled to bits. I fixed it but I think its beyond repair now since some of the gouges took chunks off the edge when i tried to repair it.

anyway I figure its better to hack the strop to pieces rather than my face

**PhatMan** · 09-13-2010, 06:27 AM

funklab,

In my case, two (2) strops

I have still have (and use) my first named 'ScarFace'.

If the reverse side of your strop is usable, I would suggest trying that for the practice. If the reverse is a little rough, you can smooth it with some good quality silicon carbide paper (320/400/600 grit), though it has to be good quality as you don't want any grits embedding themselves in the
leather !!

You can also use the 600 grit carbide paper to smooth out some of the existing nicks on your strop.

This video has been the most use to me for stropping instruction, and is by our very own hi_bud_gl (Sham)

YouTube - straight razor stropping

**knirirr** · 09-13-2010, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by PhatMan

This video has been the most use to me for stropping instruction, and is by our very own hi_bud_gl (Sham)

YouTube - straight razor stropping

**Bruce** · 09-13-2010, 01:21 PM

I'd like to recommend not stopping at the end of the stroke before turning the razor up; rather, begin to turn the razor edge up before finishing the stroke and stopping the stroke with the edge up. With this technique any movement of the razor can't result in damage to the strop as only the blunt spine is in contact with the leather. When the return stroke is started then the edge of the raxzor is brought down into contact with the strop. You are now always moving the razor's edge away from the strop when it's moving and thus cannot nick the leather.

good luck, good shaving

**JimmyHAD** · 09-13-2010, 02:37 PM

Check out the last couple of pages of the 1961 barber manual excerpt here. It is a PDF from the SRP Wiki help files on honing and stropping. I would recommend their suggestion of practicing the flipping without doing the stroke.

I used to hod the razor with the end of my thumbpad on the bottom of the tang and the first joint of my forefinger on top of the tang. When I changed to the tip of the thumbpad on the bottom of the tang and the tip of the forefinger on the top of the tang I found my feel for the pressure improved.

There are odd shaped tangs that require a different grip but most will work well with the above mentioned hold. Here is another way to deal with nicks in a 3" strop.

**doolie** · 09-13-2010, 04:16 PM

I don't own a straight razor yet but I've sharpened plenty of kitchen knives and really you have to start out very slow and put proper technique into your muscle memory before you try going at all quickly. When you're new to anything it's awkward, just go slow and patiently and before you know it you'll be stropping like a pro.

**Silver2** · 09-13-2010, 07:54 PM

I have been very fortunate with my strops.
Started with a paddle and focused on developing muscle memory.
the que for me to stroke is the blade slapping down on the turn.
I did a lot of slow stropping untill I had it down to the point I could look away and still keep going without any problems.

Then started using a hanging strop with light pressure but full contact.

Now I have added speed. average speed is 80 passes a minute.

Good luck and stay focused on what you are doing.

Silver2

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take it nice and slow to develop proper technique

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