Thread: Angle of your strop....?

In my quest to become proficient at all fazes of str8 razor shaving, my most difficult area has been stropping. I realized the importance of this in regard to getting a good shave; I can be the best shaver and have the sharpest blade, but unless I am stropping properly, I'm gonna ruin that shave! I consider myself a well coordinated person. So what's the problem? Why am I struggling so? I couldn't keep the blade flat on the leather no matter what pace I used.

I had originally hung my strop at about the middle of my chest. It looked aesthically good there. Thinking maybe the angle of the strop needed to be changed, I dropped it down to about the middle of my belly. Still struggling..... I then lowered my hook more (I actually added another hook) and placed it about 6 to 8 inches below my waist, and... Viola!!! Everything fell in to place. The down stroke was just a matter of letting the blade slide down the leather with no pressure from my hand. The up stroke was just a matter of pulling it up the leather, thus the blade remaining totally flat on the leather with absolutely no pressure on the blade!!! This was quite a thrill. I am now able to use more speed, thus gaining a good rhythm for my stroking - and, I'm doing it properly! When I'm done, I then hang the strop back on the top hook where it looks good.

In looking at photos of old time barbers stropping, I believe they had the strop pointing downward when they stropped. I think....

I'm not saying this is the definative angle to use when you strop, but for me, this works. Everybody needs to find what works best for them. This is just another approach that may help improve your method. Good luck.

* I hope this might help some of you who are struggling, as I was, with your stropping.

Regards,

Steve

Originally Posted by zepplin

I had originally hung my strop at about the middle of my chest. It looked aesthically good there.

See, I think that must've hurt not too mention difficult to get a shirt over it

Steve,

On a serious note, it looks like things are coming together nicely for you. I've been pleased to read your posts on this and other difficulties you've managed to work out.

I tip my fedora to you

Originally Posted by steve

See, I think that must've hurt not too mention difficult to get a shirt over it

You shouldn't kid someone as nieve as I. ...I then got it, after wondering what you were saying!! LOL, LOL, -

I'm still laughing - You're funny! You should do "stand up"

Steve

After Steve's joke, I read my post again, and if you were not aware of the context, you might think the 2nd papragraph was rather erotic.

Steve

Man, I'm sorry. Sometimes my mind gets a little twisted and I can't help it. I really didn't mean to pick on you. That's why my second post was made.

I'll take a 15 yard penalty

Originally Posted by steve

Steve,

On a serious note, it looks like things are coming together nicely for you. I've been pleased to read your posts on this and other difficulties you've managed to work out.

I tip my fedora to you

Thanks, I needed that, Steve -

Sometimes I am reluctant to post a question or make an observation - thinking "that's a dumb thing to say" - or, "someone's gonna call me on this one". I now think about it for a day or so before I jump in and say something stupid. I no longer need approval for making an improvement on my methods or techniques, but I do see guys struggling and struggling with honing, stropping, shaving, etc., etc... Some have been at it quite a while with no improvements. Some people just seem to struggle more than others.

If I discover something that has really helped me, perhaps it can help one of these guys that's finding it hard to "get it".

Thanks, again, Steve - and, yea, you should do "stand up"

Steve

Originally Posted by zepplin

Thanks, I needed that, Steve -

Sometimes I am reluctant to post a question or make an observation - thinking "that's a dumb thing to say" - or, "someone's gonna call me on this one". I now think about it for a day or so before I jump in and say something stupid. I no longer need approval for making an improvement on my methods or techniques, but I do see guys struggling and struggling with honing, stropping, shaving, etc., etc... Some have been at it quite a while with no improvements. Some people just seem to struggle more than others.

If I discover something that has really helped me, perhaps it can help one of these guys that's finding it hard to "get it".

Thanks, again, Steve - and, yea, you should do "stand up"

Steve

Post away!! It's awesome to see the SRP members post their experiences. You're right about wanting to post so that others may read it and try it and improve. I have been the beneficiary of many other people's experience which I never would have known about if they didn't take the time to post here.

You had mentioned putting your strop so that the top of the strop is on a downward angle when stropping and that this has helped. I tried this early on and found that for some reason, going away from me on a downward angle cause d me to lift the edge off the strop and coming toward me caused me to dig the edge into the strop. All of this to say that I have found my stropping to be best when the strop is attached (to the wall ) at waist height and I just lift handle slightly above horizontal.

However, now that my control has improved, I might revisit this based on your success.