Thread: Can stropping by itself make a razor pass the HHT?

Originally Posted by Bruce

This revelation could mean the end to HAD and save more money than ridding the earth of the smallpox scourge. Scott, please share your technique

Bruce -

My technique is based on the technique taught in barber manuals. A good example is the Milady Practice and Science of Standard Barbering by Thorpe. I posted some photos from the book in the "Stropping 101" thread showing the basic stropping pattern. This is the basic X pattern stropping.

What I do differently is, instead of using a purely straight stroke diagonally across the strop (it helps to see the photo), I sweep the razor in more of an arc. The razor still starts and ends in the same places on the strop, the path is just slightly different. Much of the movement is the forearm pivoting at the elbow. The upper arm remains relatively still.

I started doing this after watching a barber at my local shop strop one of his razors. I found that this method allowed for very fluid and rapid stropping.

The other factors involved are:
1) Focus pressure on the back of the razor keeping it in contact with the strop. This helps take pressure off of the edge preventing the "rolled" edge that others have mentioned.
2) I use my thumb at the edge of the razors mid shank to roll the razor back and forth and to control downward pressure of the razor against the strop.
3) Of course, keep the strop fairly taught. You don't need a death grip on the strop, but enough to take out all the slack.
4) Listen to and feel your razor while stropping. Others have mentioned this phenomenon. I don't think that there is any adequate way to teach this on an online forum. It's something that you will just have to be attentive to and develop over time. But there is a certain sound and feel that will tell you when you are stropping effectively.
5) Learn the Thumb Pad Test. There is sticky and then there is really sticky. And it's not just sticky that you are trying to feel. Even the barber manuals divide up the different types of sensations that can be detected when simply brushing the moistened thumb pad along the keen edge of the razor. You want a smooooth sticky. It's sort of sublime, almost zen like. Very difficult to pick up at first. It's something that really requires the presence of an experienced individual to show you. Then you would know immediately what it should feel like.
Of course you could just do shave tests as promoted by some of the more experienced members here. I find that a little too time consuming. I'd rather have a method that doesn't require first lathering up, then trying to shave, re-stropping, re-lathering, re-shaving, re-honing, etc, etc...
I've found that a razor that passes the TPT per the above will also pass the HHT with flying colors.

That's all I can think of for now regarding stropping technique. If I think of more, I'll be sure to add it.


Scott