Thread: Singing razors: what do you dislike about them?

I do flip my wist when I strop.

I do hold the tang between my fingers and sort of half flip it as well but I have just sort of got used to twisting my wrist.

It doesn't affect my stropping or edges but it does make my wrist ache a lot and I'm usually relieved when finished.

I twisted my wrist for a long time and once I got past rolling the edges it was fine except, as you say, it tires the forearm. I can only speak for myself. It's not wrong exactly, it just wore my arm out. It took some trust to let it roll between the fingers. I was afraid of scarring my strop I guess. It was less a difference between right and wrong as it was just easier on the arm to roll the tang between the fingers. Slowing down helped me.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

I twisted my wrist for a long time and once I got past rolling the edges it was fine except, as you say, it tires the forearm. I can only speak for myself. It's not wrong exactly, it just wore my arm out. It took some trust to let it roll between the fingers. I was afraid of scarring my strop I guess. It was less a difference between right and wrong as it was just easier on the arm to roll the tang between the fingers. Slowing down helped me.

You see a lot of videos of guys, even those who have experience that twist their wrists & I guess they've adapted to that style but the old barbers manuals recommend rolling between the fingers. Apart from the ergonomics you can unintentionally add more torque on the return stroke if you twist the wrist.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

the old barbers manuals recommend rolling between the fingers. Apart from the ergonomics you can unintentionally add more torque on the return stroke if you twist the wrist.

Truth. I was also told this is the correct way, they said to me "imagine turning a volume knob" all fingers, no wrist

I have to say that 85% of the flip is fingers but a little wrist is involved when i strop. Just a little. And I can strop for 500 laps without issue if the blade is made proper.

I'm going to try again without twisting my wrist.

I'm going to need to unlearn so it will probably be a bit awkward.

One thing that does occur to me. If a person is just flipping the razor with their fingers like a pencil, they must apply almost no pressure I guess.

Even though I twist my wrist I wouldn't say I apply excessive pressure but my razor definitely knows it's had a good stropping.

Hint: Watch your forefinger knuckle as you strop try and keep it from rotating, the less it rotates the less wrist you are using
Bury the spine in the strop, move it evenly and equally up and down the strop the edge will follow

That's a good tip. I've heard it described as think of stopping the spine and letting the edge go for the ride. Only contention that I would have with that is that you have to make sure that the bevel is in contact with the leather.