Thread: Overly sensitive about my technique?

Hi all... I'm a new straight shaver after a couple great months with a Merkur DE.

I got my gorgeous latigo strop last week in the mail from Tony, and have read lots and lots about proper strop technique, including Lynn's great video.

So... I know that things get better with practice, but I've read SO much about the absolute importance of keeping the blade absolutely flat, and not letting the spine come up at all. So... I've noticed that my technique is getting better every day (as are my shaves... I'm down to half an hour!), but occasionally I do see a little daylight between the spine and the strop? Am I destroying the keeness of the edge every time the spine comes up even a little?

Thanks!

For starters, strop very slowly and focus on keeping the blade flat. That way, you won't worry about the daylight. Speed will come naturally. You're probably not damaging it, but you're not getting the best performance out of the strop either.

I should think that that slowly weekens the edge and after enough spine lifting the edge just starts to break off.

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