Thread: Stropping is the work of the devil...

Stropped and shaved with a Bengall razor tonight that has 70 plus shaves on it using nothing but leather. Haven't used it for maybe 2 years. BBS in 2 passes, Aye...it's the work of the Devil I tell yee...

Originally Posted by Grazor

Stropped and shaved with a Bengall razor tonight that has 70 plus shaves on it using nothing but leather. Haven't used it for maybe 2 years. BBS in 2 passes, Aye...it's the work of the Devil I tell yee...

Clearly! It deprived you the joy of that third pass!

I enjoy stropping. It's a skill for sure, but of the shaving disciplines it is probably the easiest to get right in reasonably short order. For a few years I took stropping as the chore part of straight razors shaving.and I was using a black Latigo and a Dovo Russian type strops. What changed it, or at least gave me a sense of enjoyment and great results, was getting Kanayama strops, they are a work of art in my eyes, and the results I get make me treat them with respect. I hear you about results, yes all strops perform the same task. But IMHO when using one of their strops they have a great feel, slick draw, pleasure to use. My everyday strop is the Kanayama #70000. I do have a #80000 as back up...talk about SAD, must be the work of the devil. Did I mention, i also have another brand new #70000. Doesn't everyone....

Tossing one, much less three Kanayama strops into this discussion borders on cruelty. I have made friends with the lesser strop which I have, and aspire to own a Kanayama if I live that long.

Originally Posted by bobski

I enjoy stropping. It's a skill for sure, but of the shaving disciplines it is probably the easiest to get right in reasonably short order.

Boy, wish that were true for me. I've been at this hobby for a couple years and still feel like stropping is pretty hard to get right. I seem to keep nicking the lower right edge so clearly i must be doing something wrong.

I am in the midst of going ahead with the Mastro Livi method of light x-strokes that end with the toe of the razor going completely off the strop. Will see how that goes.

I guess if it's been 2 years and you're still doing it tough, get back to basics. If you are not using a 3 Inch strop, then that would be a good start. Do you cut your linen, cotton 2nd? My guess is you have the stropping 'yips'. Yep, like putting in golf. You don't cut the 2nd piece, but your so self conscious about not cutting it that it's inevitable.
Here is a tactic you might find challenging. All will say, get a cheap strop so if you cut it, then all is not lost. Use reverse psychology on that thing, fight back. Buy yourself a Kanayama #70000, costs you $198 USD from Aframestokyo, that way you will develop what I call 'strop discipline'. Make the issue of cutting a strop something that has got consequences, if you cut the $40 buck strop who cares, but cut the $200 buck Kanayama and it is a bloody big deal, it will hurt if you cut it, it does matter! Give it a try, my guess is for you, and you only it is the crossing of that line in the sand, I reckon, you get that Kanayama you'll never cut a strop again. I'm serious, try it.
Regards Bob

I have been sick the past couple of months. I used to follow all of the stropping threads. Got to where I didn't care if I shaved or even got a hair cut. Spent 10 days in the Hospital last month,(for copd). I had grown a beard before I went to the hospital, I shaved it off a day or so before I came home. I have shaved several times since I have been home. If I could hold my razor in my hands I would feel more like shaving daily. I have been home for a month today. I need to get one of my straights out and go find me a good strop and practice. I saw a great You Tube video about stropping maybe I will watch that again.

Can anyone have too many Kanayama strops?

What an appropriate title for a thread.

My collection has not gone past four Kanayama's. I don't include a #50000 I gave to my son, as he is now getting into straight razor shaving aged 26. So I think four is the line of demarcation. Any more than four and even I can see my mania is in action. I also don't regret owning any of them, some people love old clocks, Faberge and some collect stamps. I'll wager my four strops don't cost near as much as a Faberge Clock!