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I was recently traveling and realized I forgot my strop. I was going to hand strop when I had the idea to use my forearm instead. I thought the forearm is smoother then my hand and I can do longer laps. I was amazed how good the results were. I also used the Murray Carter technique of taking newspaper on the table surface which also works very well. When home I use my Mastro Livi loom strop but if I am not going to be away for more then a week, my arm and newspaper work just fine.
I have also found that stropping on my thigh while wearhing blue jeans works quite well. When I am honing, that is normally how I strop before testing the edge.
In the beginning, I stropped with a newspaper and jeans for quite a long time before finally buying my first strop.
Worked awesome.
Never tried the forearm though.
Pete <:-}
correct technique (spine forward) is important :rofl2::rofl2:
For beginners it's always best to use your non dominant arm in case you nick it :o
I tend to use my forearm a lot when honing to clean off the edge before I strop on my linen or cordovan. When I travel, I take a gentleman’s set and don’t bring a strop. I found I can get many great shaves without a stropping and with two razors I am good for a week. If I NEED to strop I have two forearms.
We're taking things in another direction here, but if you want to strop on your thigh while wearing pants, I find that Duluth Trading Co.'s fire hose line works quite well. Carhartt's line as well.
The older you get the better skin stropping gets cause your skin gets that much more leathery.
Knowing that newbies sometimes slash their first leather strops, I hate to think what a lapse of attention might result in with forearm stropping.
Why not use your cheeks to strop?
When you shave you use the sharp side and trust yourself.