Thread: Howdy from Montana.

For clarification when I said linen we use it to describe the secondary strop be it linen, felt, webbing etc

Welcome to the forum, Larry. Hopefully, you are able to meet up with Longhaultanker and get your razor sorted out.

For me, stropping was the most difficult shaving task to learn to do correctly with consistency.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

One thing that really can effect stropping is strop tension. It should be taught but not tight, you don't want your arm to be tired from holding your strop. Second not slack, slack can kill an edge quickly. There are guys that can strop on a slack strop but that is years of doing so. Eddy has given you some great advice, laying your strop on a flat surface will help tremendously taking almost all variable out. What really helped me was hearing the term "bury the spine". By no means dig the spine into the strop or again you will kill the edge, bury the edge thought giving a slight deflection to the strop with each stroke. I hope you enjoy your journey, there is a lot to learn but in the end it will all come together and be very rewarding

PS, I forgot to add, listen to the sound that is made when stropping. Put just the spine of your razor on the strop so the edge is straight in the air, no flipping or anything. Perform a stropping motion, notice how quiet it is? Now lay the entire blade down as you would to strop normally and make a stropping motion, notice the sound it makes? Almost like zip,zip,zip,zip. This will give you an idea when you are stropping if you are lifting the edge or doing something that is not getting the entire blade in contact. Hope this helps

Good advice! I like it when I can get immediate feedback to help determine a fault, and set on the right path to correcting the fault.
Thank you.
Larry

That's what we are here for Larry. Most of us are here because we are like minded, gentlemen and enjoy sharing information. Any time we can help is a good time.

Originally Posted by outback

I'd like to add speed into this.
Being new, your stropping is probably somewhat slow on the leather. A certain amount of speed is needed to warm the edge thru friction, and aids in realignment of the edge after shaving. Just a thought.

Thank you for the additional pointer. I have run across others speaking about "warming the edge" and yet haven't been able to ascertain any real heat during my stropping, so left me quizzical about the statement and what I needed to do to work up some heat.
You are correct in assuming I am slow on the leather while stropping. Being highly analytical by nature, I have been attempting to focus on form and function while expecting speed to develop on its own as I gain confidence in my skill. Apparently, form and function have not been up to the task yet. I hope to meet with Longhaultanker a few days from now, and hope he can set me straight (no pun intended).
Thanks again Mike.

Larry

Originally Posted by eddy79

For clarification when I said linen we use it to describe the secondary strop be it linen, felt, webbing etc

I suspected as much. Can you recommend another strop with the linen secondary strop? I am not against buying another $100 strop if that is what it takes to succeed.
Larry

ejmolitor37, thank you for your comment. I love your signature line, "Nothing is fool proof, to a sufficiently talented fool...". I fall into that category more often than I would like to admit.
I must say, I feel very welcomed here on SRP, and as a result, I am not overly concerned about making a fool out of myself.

Larry

This is simply my opinion, there is no need to spend $100 on a strop You have the tools you need, learning to use them will be worth more than any amount spent.
So your strop has 2 different materials, "linen" & leather. I put linen is quotes because, we now have many materials at our disposal. Old denim can be used, no need for actual linen. My first strop that I still own and use was a Latigo leather and seat belt like webbing. I bought this from SRD this forums sponsor. Works very well.
So your primary surface is linen, webbing, denim, which ever you choose. If you have one side of that coated is paste or diamond spray the other should be like new, use the like new side until your mechanics are sound. Then your secondary side leather. There are many leathers to choose from as well, some are faster than others or have more or less draw. More draw to me is like wet leather more drag, less draw is like dry leather.
If my memory of your posts serves correct you have all you need, just now to refine your motor skills which takes time. The laying your strop on a hard surface is great to do and then start trying to use it as a hanging strop as you go.
No need to feel a fool here all have had to learn and by no means am i a master. We all try to help one another as we can.

Side note, I described the primary and secondary sides differently than eddy did. I must have been seeing this backwards this entire time! Also my signature is a quote I found written on a wall at work, it just stuck with me. It fits well with alot of people I work with at the factory Lol have fun

Contact has been made with Larry for a meet up in Butte. Looking forward to this. Story and pictures to follow. I intend to focus on fundamentals.

Anyone else think it might be weird for two grown men to get a shower room at a truck stop to practice straight razor shaving?