Thread: Stropping question

I get that at times too. And in the same direction. I've noticed that's when I was leaning the razor more to the toe or heal.

Keeping your elbow locked in the same position took care of it.

Your just not flat all the way across the strop. It hasn't caused any problems, but it sure doesn't sound good.

Same for honing... Keep that elbow fixed in position.

I used to have the same problem although not a wedge.

It was silent one one direction but made a scraping noise in the other.

It was basically bad technique and its not good for the blade in my humble opinion, i felt i could hear the damage to my edge and my next shave proved i was doing something wrong

I was told by several guys here to strop the spine and let the edge follow.

In my humble opinion any sound other than a very quiet swish swish in both directions is wrong and i definitely don't want up and down to sound different.

Of course i have never stropped a wedge so maybe i'm completely wrong and i should shut up.

Originally Posted by STF

I was told by several guys here to strop the spine and let the edge follow.

And that’s the rub - one might end up just sliding the wedge’s blade on its side with no meaningful contact with the edge.
I don’t think wedges lend themselves to this sort of technique.


B.

Keep it flat regardless of grind.
To me there is always a minor difference in sound from one direction to another.
Keep it flat - no worries.

Unless a wedge razor has been honed to death & turned into a flat wedge it will always be a quarter hollow grind.
Do not raise the spine when stropping. A hanging strop will give enough to strop any type of grind unless it's been honed with a dozen layers of tape on the spine.

Originally Posted by beluga

And that’s the rub - one might end up just sliding the wedge’s blade on its side with no meaningful contact with the edge.
I don’t think wedges lend themselves to this sort of technique.


B.

Unless it was honed with the spine elevated (which you should not do) flat is where it should be stropped.
Many hone wedges with a couple layers of tape and that will give no reprocussions when stropping flat.

Yep. They all strop the same. Flat.

Stoneandstrop beat me to it. If and unless you have a "true wedge" you should not need to raise or torque the blade. If in that case you do, put a couple of layers of electrical tape on the spine. Sometimes it just makes a different sound. Go slowly and be methodical and you should be fine. Someone mentioned denim on cardboard. You can also use just the cardboard. In fact I use a cereal box to make pasted strops for lying on a flat surface for new stroppers. Some people also use newspaper.

Even on my rather expensive Kanayama, there is a distinct difference in pitch between the "away" stroke and the "return" stroke. It's not anything to worry about. If you are getting the same tactile feedback both ways then there is nothing seriously wrong with your strop or technique, as long as you are always landing the spine before the edge. Make it a point to always keep the spine on the strop and when you make the turn, flip the EDGE up and over, never the spine. If there is a shoulder or stabilizer, don't let it ride on the strop. Even if the strop is wide enough to take the full length of the blade, a slight x-stroke is advisable. A slight pressure is beneficial, too much is too much, but there is a wide range in there that will work just fine. Strop should be pulled taut but not guitar string tight. Not with your whole bodyweight stretching it. Neither should there be a big belly of slack in it.

The razor could be ground or honed somewhat assymetrically, but that, too, is seldom an issue, unless it was honed with the spine severely elevated. Mostly what you hear is a simple accoustical phenomenon that in fact most guys don't really even notice or make a big deal about.

Are your shaves satisfactory? After a dozen shaves and stroppings, if there is a problem, you will know it.