Thread: Stropping

Ok, I was curious how to tell if I am stropoing correctly. Im 12 or 13 shaves in. I said 12 yesterday but I think I was off by one. Anyways. Should I be able to tell by now. I stop prior to every shave and just a but after my shave. I stopped nicking my strop on about the third stropping I believe. I only have three very very very small nicks in my strop. I have a 2 inch latigo strop from SRD and I keep it taught but not excessively so. Also I dont put a lot if any pressure on the razor as I am stropping. Would my shaves be rough if I was doung it wrong? The razor still feels close if not the same as when I first shaved with it. Thanks gents.

If the razor feels as good as it did when you first got it you must be stropping correctly. If you weren't you'd be feeling it in the shave. IMHO.

If you have good results after 12-13 stroppings, I 'd say you're doing well. When I was learning, after just a few I wasn't getting good shaves anymore. Now I can get around 40 shaves before even needing CrOX for a wake up.

Ok thank gents! I see videos all the time on how to strop just nit hiw to tell if you did it wrong.

If it was sharp the day before and suddenly really dull, then you stropped incorrectly - you will notice when it happens (not if, when).
If you rolled the blade during the bad strop, your face will let you know immediately.

Sounds like you are doing good though.

So how many laps are you doing?

Use the Nylon to keep your leather clean, keep the spine on the strop at all times, go slow and stop before you flip.

When learning you must pay 100 percent attention, or you will nick.

Go slow and spine on the strop are key. And do enough laps, 50-100 are not excessive.

I do 20 laps on the nylon and between 30-40 on the leather prior to a shave. After the shave I do 10 on Nylon and 20 on leather. After that I oil my blade clean up and rest. Lol

Originally Posted by RonPage

I do 20 laps on the nylon and between 30-40 on the leather prior to a shave. After the shave I do 10 on Nylon and 20 on leather. After that I oil my blade clean up and rest. Lol

I used to do 10 on the canvas, then 50 on the leather. I noticed that cutting down to like 5-6 passes on canvas before the leather really helped out my stropping.

Really? Well sir that is something I will try out. I appreciate your advice. Right now thought to be honest I can't tell that much of a difference. Lol.

Get some magnification, you can buy a 60X lighted loupe for 2-3 dollars.

Look at your edge for cleanliness, soap, blood, skin and oxidation/rust post shaving. All this junk will eat your edge and will coat your leather strop if not removed. Some soaps leave a lot of residue, all that holds moisiture.

When using the loupe to look at the edge, I hold the loupe with my thumb and forefinger, hook your pinky finger under the spine and your middle fingers on the blade as a guide and adjust the distance so you are close enough to the edge without hitting it and in focus. Then slide your hand from heel to toe. The pinky will maintain the distance and keep you from hitting the edge or cutting yourself.

If you are seeing that residue on the bevel you may want to add a microfiber to your post shaving routine. Rinse in hot running water and carefully wipe the blade dry with the microfiber pinched between thumb and forefinger to wipe the bevel. Do this 2-3 times to get it clean and dry.

Microfiber works especially well for this.

Also check the edge for micro chipping, it is not uncommon for novices to lift the spine when stropping and roll or chip the edge. One swipe can damage the edge. Look straight down on the edge, any shinny spots are chips that will affect the comfort of the shave.

You will have to experiment with the amount of pressure needed to get good results from your strop, too much can roll the edge, not enough will not polish properly. Try doubling the number of laps on leather and see if after 2-3 day you see improvement.

As your strop breaks in, it’s stropping ability will improve. The best leather strops are floppy and smooth, so work your strop.