Stropping is the work of the devil...

Finally creating some muscle memory, but a new PRC strop looks like it has been through the crusades. When one says "sharp as a razor" it is a fact. I have a replacement leather piece, but plan to use the museum quality piece until I establish more dexterity. I knew I wasn't going to be liking this stropping business, but I'm darn near born again. Pasted one side with some crox, so I can give it 10 laps or so just to make me feel better. Any hints? I think one needs to concentrate and just deal with it. Thanks for the chance to vent.

Don't fret about it... it happens to the best of us at times.

I have my dad's last strop from the 60's that hung on his barber chair. It feels like limp rubber, but if you look closely at it... there's lots and lots of nicks and sanded spots on it. He would have replaced it if it affected the shave quality, as after all... if you didn't give the customer a comfortable shave, he'd soon be going to another barber who DID give a comfortable shave.

As long as you can fix the strop, there's no need to replace it. If you get a "flap", you can usually glue it down with some contact cement, then lightly sand it if there are some proud bits. Sharp nicks only matter if you feel them when stropping.... If you do feel one, sanding the edges so the razor's spine doesn't catch and throw you off your stropping game should be good enough. The only caveat is to watch for grit from the sandpaper getting embedded in the leather, one piece of grit can cause scratches on the bevel and/or chipping on your razor, so just make sure the strop is clean before using.

Keep the new leather put away until the old one bites the dust OR you feel super confident you're not nicking the strop any more... But, like a brand new car, new strops tend to attract nicks, and I know that all too well. :mad:

Regards

Christian

You may want tot consider a practice strop. Most artisanal strop makers carry them.

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Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Keep the new leather put away until the old one bites the dust OR you feel super confident you're not nicking the strop any more... But, like a brand new car, new strops tend to attract nicks, and I know that all too well. :mad:

Regards

Christian

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My next door neighbor told me that if you buy a car the first thing you ought to do is scratch it yourself. That way you get it over with, and as a bonus you get to choose where the scratch is! Maybe I ought to go ahead and put the first nick in my new buffalo hide strop...

Try practice stropping with a butter knife, it will help establish technique and muscle memory quicker plus your old strop will last longer. Once you do become proficient stropping your new strop should last a very long time.

My friend Mr L resents the title of this thread. He says he doesn't strop he has his sidekick Mr death do it for him. He's an expert with that Scythe and maintains it himself. (don't ask what hone he uses)

A strop is a tool and tools should be used and look like are used. I mean, do your wrenches and screwdrivers look the same as the day you bought them?

You don't want to cut your strop up but marks and things give it distinction.

please tell me that Raven strop of yours isn't all nicked up,, Say it aint so Nelson! Tc

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

My friend Mr L resents the title of this thread. He says he doesn't strop he has his sidekick Mr death do it for him. He's an expert with that Scythe and maintains it himself. (don't ask what hone he uses)

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I've got about a dozen scythe hones. Have him PM me if he'd like to try out a few really nice hones. I'm willing to mail them, so he doesn't need to come to my house.

I never have cut a strop. I think if you start out each time as a beginner slowly and deliberately then you should establish the muscle memory to be able to do it on a mental autopilot without any further risk of damage to your strop.

One thing I liked that the 1961 barber manual excerpt suggested was practicing the flip before you ever touch the strop. Seems like that was where I went astray when I first began. Nicked up a couple, but as Kaptain Zero said, contact cement and sandpaper work wonders.

Here is the PDF, might give you something to go with ;

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...t_-_Honing.pdf

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

please tell me that Raven strop of yours isn't all nicked up,, Say it aint so Nelson! Tc

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It be as pristine as the day I got it.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

I've got about a dozen scythe hones. Have him PM me if he'd like to try out a few really nice hones. I'm willing to mail them, so he doesn't need to come to my house.

I never have cut a strop. I think if you start out each time as a beginner slowly and deliberately then you should establish the muscle memory to be able to do it on a mental autopilot without any further risk of damage to your strop.

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I need a scythe hone.:boohoo:

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Originally Posted by bluesman7

I need a scythe hone.:boohoo:

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I would say I need a scythe to go with my scythe stones, but then I would need a yard to mow with it. So maybe I should just be happy with the funny shaped rocks.

The strop and I have become ever more friendly, although it looks as if it has been through a battle. I think it has character. I have a new piece of leather from PRC which will be replacing the original at some future date. Finally got some muscle memory and got a good grip on the simps to make flipping the razor much more easily, and I just relaxed. Like most new things, I overthink and overcompensate. I'm now sort of enjoying the stropping piece of this. Not a bad outlet and doesn't take too much time. Whew!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

One thing I liked that the 1961 barber manual excerpt suggested was practicing the flip before you ever touch the strop. Seems like that was where I went astray when I first began. Nicked up a couple, but as Kaptain Zero said, contact cement and sandpaper work wonders.

Here is the PDF, might give you something to go with ;

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...t_-_Honing.pdf

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The flip is where I sliced/diced strop, I had to slow way down on the flip. Making it just right then speed up on the draw/pull part slowing down again for next flip. After nicking first strop so bad I butter knifed razor for practicing on nicked strop. I am heavy handed by nature and it has taken me a couple of years to learn the light touch. I collected the hones to sharpen but have held off on learning to hone for a while longer.

Sometimes the finer things in life take more time. ;)

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...

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Originally Posted by bluesman7

I need a scythe hone.:boohoo:

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Victor, I'd like to give you one, but I only have a dozen.
:)
Do you have a scythe? If so I could loan you a couple hones for a few months after we get closer to peak season.

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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...

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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....

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Originally Posted by bcw

Finally creating some muscle memory, but a new PRC strop looks like it has been through the crusades. When one says "sharp as a razor" it is a fact. I have a replacement leather piece, but plan to use the museum quality piece until I establish more dexterity. I knew I wasn't going to be liking this stropping business, but I'm darn near born again. Pasted one side with some crox, so I can give it 10 laps or so just to make me feel better. Any hints? I think one needs to concentrate and just deal with it. Thanks for the chance to vent.

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Practicing on your cloth/linen/hemp saves the leather. Then do a few very deliberate laps on the leather and you should be good for a shave.

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Originally Posted by bcw

Finally creating some muscle memory, but a new PRC strop looks like it has been through the crusades. When one says "sharp as a razor" it is a fact. I have a replacement leather piece, but plan to use the museum quality piece until I establish more dexterity. I knew I wasn't going to be liking this stropping business, but I'm darn near born again. Pasted one side with some crox, so I can give it 10 laps or so just to make me feel better. Any hints? I think one needs to concentrate and just deal with it. Thanks for the chance to vent.

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Have you ever watched Maestro Livi strop on his loom? I watched that video last weekend again, and even though I am using a hanging strop, I am employing some ideas from Livi's video. He has a unique style of stropping where he lets the razor do an x-pattern right off the edge of the strop, then flip the razor when it is completely off the strop. I don't do that, but I do find that if I slow down, use the lightest possible touch, and keep the strop taut, I seem to be getting better results.

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.

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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.

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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!

I have never really mastered the art of stropping. I can get my razors ever so sharp with the hone but never got more than 10 shaves out of an edge before having to hone again. I have tried everything: more or less pressure, more or less slack, with or without linen, true flax linen, cotton.
So it really is the work of the devil.

BTW I only use quality strops: a Tony Miller latigo and a Kanayama.

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Originally Posted by Kees

I have never really mastered the art of stropping. I can get my razors ever so sharp with the hone but never got more than 10 shaves out of an edge before having to hone again. I have tried everything: more or less pressure, more or less slack, with or without linen, true flax linen, cotton.
So it really is the work of the devil.

BTW I only use quality strops: a Tony Miller latigo and a Kanayama.

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Was the same for me for I am heavy handed. Not saying you are. Finally using the lightest touch I can muster, I started to get some decent stropping (SRD Bridle). Still gives the creeps I will drop my razor with such a light touch but I am getting there. I want to try honing, have collected the stones, but not until I am confident with my stropping.

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Originally Posted by jmercer

Was the same for me for I am heavy handed. Not saying you are. Finally using the lightest touch I can muster, I started to get some decent stropping (SRD Bridle). Still gives the creeps I will drop my razor with such a light touch but I am getting there. I want to try honing, have collected the stones, but not until I am confident with my stropping.

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Lack of dexterity is what I call my condition. I am glad I started honing as soon as I started straight razor shaving. Dread to think how much money I would have spent on honing had I not honed my own razors.

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Originally Posted by Kees

Lack of dexterity is what I call my condition. I am glad I started honing as soon as I started straight razor shaving. Dread to think how much money I would have spent on honing had I not honed my own razors.

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Two, three, four times a year I had to send out to be honed. It's been ten months so far this go around.

You're doing way better than I.
Time to get honing. Grab a practice razor and get going!

Gee kees, as I recall your a physician aren't you? No dexterity? I'll say no more.

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Originally Posted by jmercer

Was the same for me for I am heavy handed. Not saying you are. Finally using the lightest touch I can muster, I started to get some decent stropping (SRD Bridle). Still gives the creeps I will drop my razor with such a light touch but I am getting there. I want to try honing, have collected the stones, but not until I am confident with my stropping.

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I learned everything backward. Pretty much started out honing, then had to learn to shave properly when I finally managed to get a good sharp shaving edge. Then I had to learn to strop right, in order to maintain the sharp edge I just created.

Now pasted strops are kind of taking the fun out of it. I enjoy honing, and the various edges my natural stones give. If I put my pasted strops to work, with the number of razors in my rotation, it could be a long, long time before I need to break out the stones again. Might have to put a sign out front and try to generate some honing business just so I have an inflow of hone-ables to feed the habit.