Thread: Help with stropping technique please

Thank you all for the feedback, i will apply all of this the next time i shave. Hopefully tonight should this work project give me enough time. Also, keep the feedback coming i really appreciate it.

The stropping doesn't sound right guys. Turn the volume up and listen . . .

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The stropping doesn't sound right guys. Turn the volume up and listen . . .

That's what I thought but I'm the newb here. My leather does have some scratches and scrapes from learning on it. Could that be the sound you're hearing ? I'll attach a pic of it. Could it be a defect in the razor no one has noticed till now. The razor I sent in to have honed was shaving better than this at its worst.



IDK, but I'm going crazy trying to figure this out. I do want to thank everyone for the help.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The stropping doesn't sound right guys. Turn the volume up and listen . . .

Sounds like the return stroke has more pressure. I'd say that's to do with the ergonomics of the strop placement.
Once the arm extends away from the body the return stroke requires more muscle control to keep it even.

I strop with my left hand anchored at my hip & the strop around waist high. The stroke is no more than slightly extending & returning the elbow.

My guess is the strop has an issue, to me it sounds like it's been treated incorrectly, or is defective, or has been cross contaminated with honing compound. Those nicks look pretty deep too.

I'm a newbie too.

I'm not quite tracking on your last comment. Just be patient, we'll work it.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Sounds like the return stroke has more pressure. I'd say that's to do with the ergonomics of the strop placement.
Once the arm extends away from the body the return stroke requires more muscle control to keep it even.

I strop with my left hand anchored at my hip & the strop around waist high. The stroke is no more than slightly extending & returning the elbow.

I do plan on changing the location of the strop before my next shave. I am shooting for a door knob. I need to find a ring or tie some string around the door knob and put a loop in it to attach the strop to.

The bottom third of the razor seems to have an unevenness in the bevel. It's hard to tell from a single picture. Anybody else see that?

Originally Posted by INstr8

I do plan on changing the location of the strop before my next shave. I am shooting for a door knob. I need to find a ring or tie some string around the door knob and put a loop in it to attach the strop to.

String or leather lace would work. Make sure the door's closed.
I use the handle on a kitchen drawer for my anchor.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The bottom third of the razor seems to have an unevenness in the bevel. It's hard to tell from a single picture. Anybody else see that?

Possibly a warp, I thought.

I would lower the anchor point. Personal preference but may make things easier. I think it sounds and looks ok. Lighten up a touch, not to much on the pressure.

I also believe if you made it this long on your stropping you are doing fine. Stropping is not the only reason new guys dull edges. The angles you took early on did not help the edge and your stropping kept that edge going for a good while.

Keep at it. You are doing fine. Stropping does become second nature and then one day it just does not go well. The next day you'll be fine again.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I'm not quite tracking on your last comment. Just be patient, we'll work it.

I was talking about the razor I was using previously to this one. I sent in a dovo best 5/8 full hollow for honing. When I did that I got out the Aust 5/8 full hollow to shave with. The only sharpening the Aust has had was its initial honing.

The Aust was purchased as a gift, I looked at it briefly and put it away and haven't touched it until recently. That is why I'm so confused as to what could be wrong with the blade, it's hardly been used. Unless it came to me that way.