Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
Like Tree4Likes

Thread: Clarification: What is a "stroke" and what is a "lap?"

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    The Philadelphian Suburbs
    Posts
    365
    Thanked: 30

    Default Clarification: What is a "stroke" and what is a "lap?"

    I've been learning a lot more about barber hones and pasted strops lately as I've been forced, through continual use, into the "touching up" stage. I've read that you should do 4-6 strokes on a barber hone. When people say "stroke," does that mean one single pass of the razor up the hone? Or is it one single pass up, followed by a pass down? I've understood that a lap was an "up and back" motion while a stroke is just one half of that.

    I got confused because I read an article recommending 5 strokes on a barber hone and that seemed weird. If a stroke is indeed one single swipe of the razor on the hone, why would it be an uneven number? Is "5 strokes" 5 passes on the hone, or 10? Is it 5 each side of the razor, or 5 all-together?

  2. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    I've always considered stroke or lap to mean round trip. IOW, doing each side of the blade is one whatever you want to call it .... stroke, lap, round trip.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    The Philadelphian Suburbs
    Posts
    365
    Thanked: 30

    Default

    My feeling is that they all mean the same thing as well...but then if that's the case why are there so many different terms that could mean seemingly different things?

  4. #4
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,945
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    It does get a bit confusing sometimes...

    Stroke can mean both, a Lap is pretty self-explanatory of course as a round trip..

    In General: When talking of Honing and Stropping most people mean a round trip ie: a Lap
    and most will even designate a "Half Stroke" or a "Half Lap" to mean just that... Think about the fact that honing and stropping is generally used equally on both sides of the edge...

    Now when talking shaving, the "Stroke" takes on the single trip connotation...

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Washington DC Metro Area
    Posts
    468
    Thanked: 114

    Default

    All this out-and-back roundtrip talk brings the songs "Boomerang I" and "Boomerang II” to mind. :-)

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    The Philadelphian Suburbs
    Posts
    365
    Thanked: 30

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by diyguy View Post
    All this out-and-back roundtrip talk brings the songs "Boomerang I" and "Boomerang II” to mind. :-)
    That made my day...I just hope it means what I'm assuming it means, or else I've become dangerously obsessive.

  7. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth Theseus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    2,786
    Thanked: 421

    Default

    Obsessing too much over it will give you a stroke. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
    gssixgun and Havachat45 like this.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts
    115
    Thanked: 19

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gssixgun View Post
    Now when talking shaving, the "Stroke" takes on the single trip connotation...
    oh.... now that might explain why I have so much razor burn...
    gssixgun likes this.

  9. #9
    Senior Member whavens's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Jeffersonville, IN
    Posts
    467
    Thanked: 164

    Default

    Damn I thought a stroke was what you have when you get your paypal account statement at the end of the month.
    gssixgun likes this.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Havachat45's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Redbank, Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    1,639
    Thanked: 291

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by whavens View Post
    Damn I thought a stroke was what you have when you get your paypal account statement at the end of the month.
    There is that, and it has other connotations here in Australia, however, we can't mention them here.....hehehe
    Hang on and enjoy the ride...

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •