Thread: Strop tension

So I've been trying to stretch out the amount of shaves off my coticule, before having to do a few laps on the stone. I'm now about 3 1/2 months into straight shaving, but feel my technique, and prep and such, have been good for a while now. I've been consistently having to do a half dozen (weight of the blade only) laps on water, every 3 shaves, as I like to keep the blade in tip top shape. For a change up, I went from holding my stop fairly tight (not pull it off the wall tight), to what GSSIXGUN calls taut in one of his stropping videos, and have to say that I'm 7 shaves in from my last touch up, and am still bringing my edge back to what is satisfactory to me. I've done more, or less stropping laps for posterity's sake, and didn't really see much, if any difference, but the lessening of a bit of pressure on the stop, seems to make all the difference. Nice when something comes together!

I find about a 1" drop in the strop while stropping with just a little pressure works for me. I'm no pro, thats for sure, but I used to hold it pretty tight too and wasnt getting much out of it. Now, no more than 1 inch for me but I've seen others strop with lots a flex/drop in the strop.

Taught is the right word. Dont pull so hard your arm gets tired. There should be some deflection with each stroke. Bury the spine is some of the best advice I had received. That's a Glen quote
I'm glad you have had a break through.

This mirrors my experience almost exactly. Altering one aspect of your routine and observing the results has been for me very helpful. My stropping has evolved over time. As well as other things like honing. Don't be adverse to experimenting. There are many paths to get the results we seek. My $.02 Ken

Good subject! I prefer to go lightly taut for several laps and then tighten up a bit for the remainder.
On the fabric and the leather as-well.

Stropping like we hone. Heavy, then light.
I almost never rehone one. The strops keep them going for the most part.
They get better and better.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

Taught is the right word. Dont pull so hard your arm gets tired. There should be some deflection with each stroke. Bury the spine is some of the best advice I had received. That's a Glen quote
I'm glad you have had a break through.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Good subject! I prefer to go lightly taught for several laps and then tighten up a bit for the remainder.
On the fabric and the leather as-well.

Stropping like we hone. Heavy, then light.
I almost never rehone one. The strops keep them going for the most part.
They get better and better.

I struggle daily with trying to spell the correct word that I want to use. The English language is full of various words that mean different things (to,two, too) and for some reason when I read 'taught' it didn't look right but it Sounds Right!

I have made a vow to memorize this word! TAUT and use it when I write about how a strop is to be held.

https://www.grammar.com/tout-taunt-taut-taught

At 38 I still struggle with the English language!
Take "live" for instance: I live in Egham. I went to see Neil Diamond live - Same word different meaning and lets not get started on cockney rhyming slang me ol chinas.

Oh yeah, taut not tight is the way to go.

Great to hear that you have had a breakthrough. I was very lucky when I started out stropping seemed to be the only thing that went right. Everything else took some sorting out but for some reason the stropping was OK. I did watch a ton of videos before I started and my first strop was a paddle strop so maybe that helped.

I hold my strop taut enough that the strop is straight, but not tight enough that it has no flex when I use it. It seems to work well for me. I still have to refresh on the stones every now and then, but not that often so it's all good.

Thanks for sharing your findings.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

At 38 I still struggle with the English language!
Take "live" for instance: I live in Egham. I went to see Neil Diamond live - Same word different meaning and lets not get started on cockney rhyming slang me ol chinas.

Oh yeah, taut not tight is the way to go.

Kind of like the Scots spell it whisky, and the Irish spell it whiskey. Us yanks spell it whiskey also.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I struggle daily with trying to spell the correct word that I want to use. The English language is full of various words that mean different things (to,two, too) and for some reason when I read 'taught' it didn't look right but it Sounds Right!

I have made a vow to memorize this word! TAUT and use it when I write about how a strop is to be held.

https://www.grammar.com/tout-taunt-taut-taught

Lol, this aint the first spelling bee ive lost