Thread: Different Razors need Different Stropping

Chrisl,

I think you would really benefit from reading the 1961 Barbers Manual in the archives, particularly page 26.

If you have read it how would you respond/comment to the text which states "Guard against sagging. The pressure of the razor must be heavy enough to feel a firm drag or draw" (p. 26)

I would suspect, given what you've said so far, that you would have achieved a draw on one side of the blade and not on the other.

Thoughts?

We posted simultaneously. I think you can surmise my position on your question. But your right, either option might be a wash.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I think you would really benefit from reading the 1961 Barbers Manual in the archives, particularly page 26.

If you have read it how would you respond/comment to the text which states "Guard against sagging. The pressure of the razor must be heavy enough to feel a firm drag or draw" (p. 26)

Thanks for the suggestion, Alan. I will definitely read from the manual; I haven't yet and I'm certain I'll benefit from it.

Your quote from the manual that I've emboldened really caught my eye. The words like: "pressure", "heavy", "firm" seem to counter what I originally thought (incorrectly as I see here) when starting back in October. I thought stropping was to be done as honing a typical razor is done: no or virtually no pressure. Granted we're still talking about a delicate edge, so I know the manual doesn't mean to try to push the razor through the strop , but I'm going to practice a taut strop with more pressure on the razor. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again. I appreciate any help you guys can give.

Chris L

Yea, the pressure thing becomes a dilemma, given what we know about what everyone else does. Let me add though that the pressure is "enough to feel a draw" and that the sharper a razor is the less pressure you need to use to feel a draw.

Thus, everyone could have a different point of view on how much pressure is needed to get a good edge and we'd all be right.

So, sharper = thinner and thinner = less pressure.

I'm at the point actually where I have to lessen the sharpness of my blades in order to strop it up perfect for a smooth cut.

I can do the whole feather light touch thing but its a little more difficult. I like to just hone it off a barber hone and then strop "effectively" to get a wicked perfect shave.

I thought that, based on your current situation, that I might convince you of the benefit of taut/pressure over sagging.

Its an amazingly simple read though.

Also, I just replied, like a day or two ago to someone about how to old the strop. There are some hand hold techniques, like wrist rolling, that can minimize the problem your strop is experiencing. Ultimately the strop needs to be flat.

I was afraid, since you hadn't responded for a while that I might have offended you. That wasn't my intention at all. Just wanted to provide another point of view.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I was afraid, since you hadn't responded for a while that I might have offended you. That wasn't my intention at all. Just wanted to provide another point of view.

Definitely not, no offense. Reading those pages of the manual you suggested was one of the best things I've done in relation to my razorship in quite some time. Heh, I've even taped the page showing the strop and razor position on my bathroom wall above my strop to study it more and to practice the stroke with a dull razor on the backside of one of my strops (haven't done that yet, but I will).

That should be required reading for all new SRP members!!

There is a lot of good info in this thread. Thanks guys.