Thread: It’s all been said before, but….

Originally Posted by Tathra11

Ahhhh...... I see the opening of a rabbit hole. Perhaps one of our many 'acquisition disorders'. But seriously, whilst my very expensive Kanoyama is a joy to use, it doesn't produce a better edge than my much less expensive strops followed by some palm stropping. High end strops are fine to use provided the stropping technique is sorted.

Palm stropping? Really?

Originally Posted by Elnones

Palm stropping? Really?

Yes absolutely. I picked it up from Alex Gilmour, well known Jnat seller. (TheJapanStone) utube. After leather, I strop on my firm palm. Adds keen to the edge. Old school and works a treat.

Originally Posted by Elnones

I wonder if just for environmental reasons, whether straight razors are the way of the future.

It's a great thought but many men have become indolent.
For those that aren't lazy, there is a time factor. I'm out of the house most days before 07:00 and often get back home late (I retire soon! can't wait). Straight razor shaving is my weekend hobby.

I see you are in Victoria B.C. My in-laws used to live on Oscar Street.

I'm sure there are better videos out there, but I feel the information discussed in this video is pretty standard for stropping. Approximately 9mins in he talks about palm stropping, and demonstrates it. Hope this visual reference will help you understand 'palm' stropping better. It is quite common among straight shavers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOk-pVtQMpw

Originally Posted by welshwizard

It's a great thought but many men have become indolent.
For those that aren't lazy, there is a time factor. I'm out of the house most days before 07:00 and often get back home late (I retire soon! can't wait). Straight razor shaving is my weekend hobby.


I see you are in Victoria B.C. My in-laws used to live on Oscar Street.

I’m retired, so I have plenty of time for the morning ritual

My son lives on Chester St, just off Oskar.

This one I haven’t seen. Thanks.

My cheap trop doesn’t have a canvass side.

Originally Posted by Elnones

My cheap trop doesn’t have a canvass side.

You don't need a canvas or linen strop. Yes it's nice to have. Over the years there has been much back and forth over the topic of what a fabric strop can do. Most think it "Dresses" the edge. I'm not sure what that means but what it doesn't mean is it hones the edge or makes it any sharper.

I don't know that I agree with that. I find flax linen...real linen improves adges that are starting to lack keenness. I also find that it keeps an edge from going back to the stones for an extended period of time...but don't listen to any of us. Try it and find out for yourself.

Originally Posted by Elnones

This one I haven’t seen. Thanks.

The guy in the video is turning his wrist rather than rolling the razor with his fingertips.
It's an incorrect technique that can lead to unequal pressure on the edge because the wrist position is not constant.

Correct technique is demonstrated here : https://shavelibrary.com/w/Razor_str...Davis11_of_SRP