Thread: Rolling Hone/Rolling Strop?

Here's a better (I hope!) diagram. In fact, disregard my first drawing. The red lines indicate the blades path over the strop. The blue indicates the movement of the hand. The razor remains perfectly flat on the strop at all times. The dotted lines indicate where the razor is turned or flipped. I usually keep the razor in contact with the strop during the turn, but have found, after years of practice, that I can also lift off during the turn if I want with no problem.

I think you can now see how this is essentially the X pattern.

The curving of the red line is intentional as I find it a more natural and comfortable way to strop. You could use a more strict approach, if you want, and use a pure diagonal stroke getting the same effect.

I should also mention that I do use a very strict diagonal motion while honing.

And, for those of you who might think that this method of stropping is slow and/or cumbersome, if you've watched my stropping video you should think differently

Oh, one more thing. I know someone will think those red lines show that the razor is flying completly off of the strop. No. At least one half the length of the blade stays flat on the strop the whole time.


Scott


Attachment 1982

So you strop toe leading Scott. Do you have to pay close attention when stropping a full hollow? I ask this because I find if I go toe leading I tend to put more weight on at the start of the stroke. This tends to dull a full hollow if the tension isn't right. My way has the same slight arc to the stroke as yours but with heal leading instead.
I agree that as you gain confidence you can lift off at the end of each pass and this I tend to do with wedge type razors when I really speed up for a quick shave. normally tho I tend to make the same "clip-clap" as a Rolls Razor when I go fast. This has no effect on the edge or should I say no detrimental effect. I think I said earlier that when stropping on a pasted I go with toe leading but finish on the pasted with heal leading with lighter pressure. Do you have a pref for pasted strops and the way to lead the razor. Sorry just remembered you don't use pasted strops. Dissregard.

PuFF

PuFF,

I think I've overcome the problem of uneven application of pressure by focussing pressure on the back of the razor. Through practice I suppose I've become good at it since I never really worry about what you mentioned. It seems that the rest of the razor follows along with the back It's become a natural habit for me. Also, as I turn the razor, I slightly adjust and re-position the razor as sight and/or feel dictates. This occurs in fractions of a second and along with the rhythm of my stropping.

Scott

Is there a reason behind using a toe leading action? Toe leading on my pasted strops is so I follow the hone angle, is this why you strop that way?

PuFF

Thanks guys - this is a very informative discussion for me.

I think I do a similar stroke to the one Scott posted. But, I start with the heel leadiing and end with the toe leading, so I guess the toe of the razor moves faster than the heel. Is this bad? Is it better to keep the angle of the razor consistent within a stropping stroke (like when honing?)

James.

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

Is there a reason behind using a toe leading action? Toe leading on my pasted strops is so I follow the hone angle, is this why you strop that way?

PuFF

For a long time I struggled with the correct way to strop. Back in the 1980's after I first started, I had never seen anyone strop a razor besides in the movies. I tried different ways such as the strict X pattern, taught in some barber books, and stropping parallel to the strop. I wasn't too sure of what I was doing. About 15 years ago I saw a barber using an arcing "swooshing" stroke while stropping his razor. I'd never seen that before. It certainly wasn't in any barber manual I'd seen, but I tried it out and perfected it. Now it is the only way I strop.

If you look at the photos in the American 1950's Textbook of Barbering, I believe the pic shows a barber stropping a razor with the point leading. But the photo indicates that the razor follows a diagonally straight line, not arced as I do. In fact I think that pic is somewhere in the SRP archives.


Scott

OK, here it is. It's the 1960's btw. It looks as though the stroke will be with heel leading, but I think the stroke just starts out that way in the photo. If you'll notice, the directional arrow starts at the tip of the razor and directs diagonally downward and away. This leads me to believe that the point will be leading during the stroke.

You'll have to scroll down to the bottom to see the photo:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...id,3/Itemid,3/

Also notice how the barber is performig the thumb pad test in the very last photo.


Scott

That looks like a typical X pattern to me. Assuming the razor stays in the position shown (meaning no arcing), the tip would follow the directional line and end in the middle of the strop. Of course, I don't have much experience so I'm perfectly willing to assume I'm wrong too.

Steve - you mean the Barber pictures? I'm with you - looks like an X pattern to me too. Hmmm, more to think about.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Steve - you mean the Barber pictures? I'm with you - looks like an X pattern to me too. Hmmm, more to think about.

James.

Right, James. I looked at the barber textbook pictures that Scott linked to.