Thread: Palm honing

YMMV! For me, I'm sticking with a strop!

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I began palm stropping several years ago and it became a habit. How and why I started I don't remember, although I figured that the palm is leather, too, so why not? As long as I was careful, of course. Years later Mastro Livi did it in a video I saw and I thought that if he did it, I was in good company.

I palm strop after every regular stropping sequence, about 50 strokes, after honing on stones and before each shave. I still figure the palm is leather, too, and probably the sweetest of the leather strops.

The skin is a very mild abrasive so that is why I think Mastro Livi does it I think plus palm stropping your leather strop helps clean it off & heats it a little. I like Obie's post here!

Lots of people palm strop, those who are experienced in it claim that it works just like leather. I on the other hand, have too many nicks on my strops to use my hand.

One thing for sure using this method..............it is self-correcting for sure and gives instant feedback!

Originally Posted by Michael70

One thing for sure using this method..............it is self-correcting for sure and gives instant feedback!

If you palm strop.....and end up missing a finger or two....
It MAY be time to "modify your technique".....!!!

Close shaves should SOOTHE ya...NOT SCARE ya!!

Originally Posted by dasstraightguy

If you palm strop.....and end up missing a finger or two....
It MAY be time to "modify your technique".....!!!

Close shaves should SOOTHE ya...NOT SCARE ya!!

I would love to see the video on this and I know one exist if I take the time to find it! I just cannot get past the idea. Me and sharp objects have a agreement................and that is I respect them and will do anything not to upset that delicate balance!

I do it too. Especially between stones, like I'm sure many of us do. Before/after shaving I don't see much sense in doing it, since the strop is just more efficient.. but yes, it's leather and works just like a strop.

Originally Posted by Michael70

I would love to see the video on this and I know one exist if I take the time to find it! I just cannot get past the idea. Me and sharp objects have a agreement................and that is I respect them and will do anything not to upset that delicate balance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXkjXfuNbpg

Originally Posted by engine46

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXkjXfuNbpg

All I can say is !

I've never tried it. I dry my blades with a towel if I need to take a look at them between stones and don't see any need to strop. When the honing is done they go to leather and I don't see how a hand can compete. If you feel the need to strop between stones it would make sense because you would avoid embedding stone grit into your strop(maybe?).