Thread: First time stropping report

So, I got into SR a few weeks ago as most of you know.
The first shave was perfect as the blade came stropped as well as honed due to a friend here on SRP, Thank you again
The second wasnt bad, but the edge was more dull and didnt get the baby butt smooth feel.
So, yesterday i went to my friends house and used his family's old strops to get my razor back up to par.
All in all i think it went very well, they had 3 or 4, i chose the best 2. One was leather only and had some sort of red paste, which i figured for iron oxide honing paste, so i started with 10-20 passes on that. Next i went to an old 2 sided strop, canvas and leather. The canvas was in great condition, but the leather was a bit warped in places from age. No serious cuts or nicks however.
So id strop for 20 or so passes, and give it a test on my left arm right up from the wrist. The first time there was considerable tugging, 20-30 more passes and there was minor tugging. But 30 more passes and it was smooth as butter, now i have a 6"x2" bare spot on my forearm.. highly visible, sure didnt think that one through..

I avoided the wavy area after i tried 10 or so passes, didnt like the feel. So, i guess my question to you all is, Does a strop being wavy hurt the blade at all? I notice the edge of a razor comes to paper thin for a good length, so im very very careful not to put any pressure on. no mater what im doing, shaving or stropping.
(I laid the strop down on the edge of a table, so it was as flat as possible)

For the angle, i laid the blade down completely with the spine touching the strop as well. it seemed to work perfectly, i figured if thats how its honed, it must be how its stropped.

Here is a huge thread on stropping

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html





http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...how-often.html

I'll be trying it out tomorrow morning before church. we shall see how well i did with my stropping.
shaved my arm well enough..

Must have done something right, shave was as good as new today
still not super comfortable with left side though, and it shows..
I got baby smooth, but in locations with odd grain, there is still some grit to my face. Not visibly noticeable, but i can feel it.
Another good note,
Think i finally have this lather thing figured out
got a nice thick and smooth lather right off the bat