Thread: Short Stroke vs. Long Stroke Technique

Originally Posted by pmburk

That's great reading about your grandfather showing you how to shave with a straight. He taught you well!

He didn't have running water so he would get some hot water from the reservoir in the wood stove and pour it into a washbowl. He would wet his face and started working up a lather in a cup using a boar brush. He then lathered his face with a somewhat wet brush. He worked on the lather in the cup some more and then re-lathered. Using short strokes, he would shave his sideburns on both sides, then his cheeks both sides, his jawline both sides, each side of his neck, his upper lip, lower lip, chin and adam's apple (pulling the skin as needed). As he worked he would wipe the razor on a thin towel he had draped over his shoulder or if he needed a little lather, he would slide the razor between his thumb and fore finger (spine toward palm) and wipe the lather where needed. When done he would splash some water from the washbowl over his face and then using the clean end of the towel, he'd wipe his face dry. A quick swish of the brush in the bowl and a quick shake dry and he was done.

He was a wonderful man and the main reason I got into straights. I only hope I can be more like him.

ETA He was born in 1883 and died in 1983. I still have his razor, an inexpensive but priceless to me item.

Originally Posted by Jacketch

He didn't have running water so he would get some hot water from the reservoir in the wood stove and pour it into a washbowl. He would wet his face and started working up a lather in a cup using a boar brush. He then lathered his face with a somewhat wet brush. He worked on the lather in the cup some more and then re-lathered. Using short strokes, he would shave his sideburns on both sides, then his cheeks both sides, his jawline both sides, each side of his neck, his upper lip, lower lip, chin and adam's apple. As he worked he would wipe the razor on a thin towel he had draped over his shoulder or if he needed a little lather, he would slide the razor between his thumb and fore finger (spine toward palm) and wipe the lather where needed. When done he would splash some water from the washbowl over his face and then using the clean end of the towel, he'd wipe his face dry. A quick swish of the brush in the bowl and a quick shake dry and he was done.

He was a wonderful man and the main reason I got into straights. I only hope I can be more like him.

WOW, that's awesome man!

Did your grandfather use a 2" strop or a 3" ? If he used a 2", did he say why ?
I have a theory that strops were 2" wide for a reason - back when leather was more plentiful / cheaper than it is now. I just don't know what the reason was...

Originally Posted by JohnG10

Did your grandfather use a 2" strop or a 3" ? If he used a 2", did he say why ?
I have a theory that strops were 2" wide for a reason - back when leather was more plentiful / cheaper than it is now. I just don't know what the reason was...

He did use a 2" strop but I never asked him why.

I use shorter strokes when I want greater control