Thread: Stropping - Which side do I use?

Leather is leather - kind of.... I wouldn't be too worried about that strop's quality, at least to begin with - in fact, the pics look OK from what I can see, although there appear to be some scratches or creases or something on it - just make sure that surface is reasonably smooth. You might just be happy to have a cheaper one to learn on anyway - everyone gets a nick or two in the leather at some point.

James.

Do yourself a BIG favor. Spend the $20 to have the razor professionally sharpened. It will give you a baseline for a proper edge. Straight Razor Designs does arguably the best job. It will also become evident quickly that stropping like shaving is an acquired skill. It will take time and practice to maintain a good razor's edge. An inexpensive strop is a great starter because you will nick and or cut the strop during the learning process. GO Slow speed comes easily with time. Don't think you need to finish every shave with your Dovo. Work it until you tire or lose confidence and then finish with what you have been using in the past. READ the beginners tutorials and the Wiki. Enjoy the ride....er the shaving experience

I have a strop that is 2 sided leather...no cloth. Can i strop on the rough side of the leather first in lieu of the cloth? Also, my strop seems pretty stiff because it's 2 layers...will that ruin my nice new dovo's edge when I strop it?

Hi,
some do strop on the back side of the strop. I haven't dared to do that yet myself, because I too have a linen side. If the leather is rather smooth, why not. I wouldn't do it on the strop of the OPer though. I find that far too coarse. On a strop like that, use the linen.

I don't think your strop will harm your razor because it is thick or stiff. Just think what stropping on a paddle strop is like. It's rather inflexible too and does the trick. When you strop on a hanging strop, pull the strop tight, but not "singing" tight. It is important to apply the right pressure of the razor - namely almost none. And, it is important to make the spine of the razor "bend" the strop and not the edge. Both hands work together to get it right. Enough said, there are loads of videos and posts on stropping here and on the net.

Stay with it and you will learn to get things right, which is part of the fun.

Best wishes,
OldSalt