Thread: first go

You can even lay the strop flat on your counter top and strop that way. Or you could just run some shoelace or something of the sort through the holes in it and fasten it to something that way to have it as a hanging strop

Originally Posted by kwlfca

I've been practicing a lot and I think I've got the motion of the flip down

Sorry I misunderstood. Though thought were trying to strop with your finger on the spine.

This is really only mildly related to the last post but I thought I'd throw it out there, while we're mentioning stropping.

I've read that the 'correct' way to strop a kamisori is with the index finger on the spine for away strokes and the thumb on the spine for toward strokes.

Any comments on this? Has anyone tried it? I have...until I misjudged a stroke and made an inch long slice in my strop. I quickly went back to a 'western-style' of stropping.

Originally Posted by PigHog

This is really only mildly related to the last post but I thought I'd throw it out there, while we're mentioning stropping.

I've read that the 'correct' way to strop a kamisori is with the index finger on the spine for away strokes and the thumb on the spine for toward strokes.

Any comments on this? Has anyone tried it? I have...until I misjudged a stroke and made an inch long slice in my strop. I quickly went back to a 'western-style' of stropping.

In his kamisori honing video Glenn mentions that even though the honing process might differ, the stropping remains the same after which he strops the kamisori just like a western razor.

Originally Posted by PigHog

This is really only mildly related to the last post but I thought I'd throw it out there, while we're mentioning stropping.

I've read that the 'correct' way to strop a kamisori is with the index finger on the spine for away strokes and the thumb on the spine for toward strokes.

Any comments on this? Has anyone tried it? I have...until I misjudged a stroke and made an inch long slice in my strop. I quickly went back to a 'western-style' of stropping.

That is Iwasaki's method. Western style works just fine.
Just to avoid confusion the contact is not on the spine where most would think. It is at the tang.

Return of the Jedi....sorry, bad joke.
I've returned from my grounding. I was banned for 7 days due to confrontational behavior/condescending attitudes towards other members.

I would like to formally apologize to anyone who has ever felt offended at any point by anything that I have ever said here on SRP.
I can sometimes come off as blunt, abrasive, condescending, or just plain rude, when I don't mean to at all.
I think this is a mix of my sarcastic sense of humour (depending on the situation), unnecessary defensiveness on my part, or just being unsure as to how I should say what I'm trying to say (which can come out wrong). Sometimes I'm just trying to make a point but make it in the wrong way.
Again, I'd like to apologize for this and say that I don't mean any harm and that I'm actually one of the most soft-hearted people that one could ever meet.

To Scott/shooter74743:
During these 7 days, I have felt absolutely horrible at the thought of what you must have thought of me. You had literally just sent me a razor and strop out of pure kindness and generosity and I fear that from your perspective I basically fell off the face of the earth.
I want to apologize to you as well. I got the razor and strop today (the mailman came about ten minutes after I had already shaved so I haven't gotten the chance to use it yet) and would like to thank you again for everything.

When stropping with the X pattern, do you need go heel to toe (best way I can think of to describe what I mean lol) both ways? Or can I go heel to toe on the away stroke and then toe to heel on the return stroke?

I ask because it seems more natural for me to do a mirrored sort of motion on the return stroke...it also seems easier to do it this way without taking the spine off of the strop.

I find that when I try to do a heel to toe motion both ways (as is depicted in videos etc), I have to take the spine off of the strop during the flip.

Does this even matter? Am I over thinking this too much?

I think you may be over thinking it just a tad. But to answer your question, I don't think it matters how you do the x stroke just as long as the full length of the blade makes contact with the strop along the way. Whichever method works for you and is comfortable so as not to put too much pressure on the edge and let the strop do it's job

Okay, thank you! My girlfriend said I was probably over thinking it as well but I'd rather er on the side of caution!

Originally Posted by kwlfca

When stropping with the X pattern, do you need go heel to toe (best way I can think of to describe what I mean lol) both ways? Or can I go heel to toe on the away stroke and then toe to heel on the return stroke?

Yep, that works just fine. Just don't slice your strop by lifting the heel & digging the point in on the return.

I ask because it seems more natural for me to do a mirrored sort of motion on the return stroke...it also seems easier to do it this way without taking the spine off of the strop.

Everything becomes easier with practice.

I find that when I try to do a heel to toe motion both ways (as is depicted in videos etc), I have to take the spine off of the strop during the flip.

You don't have to remove the razor from the strop completely just slide the razor into position keeping spine contact. The edge is of course off the strop at that point.

Does this even matter? Am I over thinking this too much?

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