Thread: Holding a strop

I thought I would throw this out there, just because, well I hate changing things without mentioning it.

I've changed the way I hold a strop.

I've concluded that it is better to grasp the strop between the ring finger and the middle finger and place the index and middle finger under the strop. Then I twist my wrist back toward myself.

Although I found the apparent change is small, it actually creates a much flatter strop which improves edge sharpness.

The key, I think, is the index finger under the strop as a flattening guide.

Happy shaving . . . I hope you all had a nice Christmas!

Thanks for the post. My only strop has a handle and it seems pretty flat, except for when I use the linen side inverted (the side that has diamond spray in it). If I do not hold the leather part, it is not completely flat. I wonder if people have a way of doing this that leads to flatter surface.

Al raz.

My strop also has a handle. Part of what I'm suggesting is that using the handle produces a less flat surface.

I tried it this morning and it works better then the thumb and forefinger method I had been using.

Not anytime soon. I'll give you a hint though. I have to run off to work. Your hand begins inverted, like your going to shake someones hand (left hand). Place the index and middle finger under the strop. The strop goes between the ring and middle, then twist the hand backward, toward you. If you don't invert your hand first (away from you) it'll never make sense.

I gotta try this in the privacy of my own home, but imagining how this may work, I can't mentally picture getting any traction on the strop to pull it taut without getting my thumb in on the action.

I don't practice being dense, it just comes naturally and effortlessly.

Bruce, try it with a piece of paper or napkin in place of the strop as a simulation. Use your thumb to anchor the 'strop' to your index finger.

Yes, I can do it and it works very well! The strop(s) seem to have an upward arch now that gets perfectly flat during light as possible strokes. I add to this technique by grasping both strop strips instead of just the one I am using. I was doing this after I started using a hanging strop. When I re-inventing straight razor shaving for myself after a 3 yr hiatus, I was using strops atop tables to insure that there was no sag. I do not have a paddle strop. This flexing really prevents potential sagging. Also holding both linen and leather strops at one time gives a thicker, stiffer strop surface. Thanks for the technique. Good find. Robert

A little sagging in the strop adds to refining the edge edge. I can't find it now but someone posted stating they watched Livi strop a straight on a loom strop. He tested the edge and if it wasn't to his liking he loosened the strop a little and stropped again. After all of the years straight razors were in use if a perfectly flat strop was best I would think that is all we would see by now.

Originally Posted by Joed

A little sagging in the strop adds to refining the edge edge. I can't find it now but someone posted stating they watched Livi strop a straight on a loom strop. He tested the edge and if it wasn't to his liking he loosened the strop a little and stropped again. After all of the years straight razors were in use if a perfectly flat strop was best I would think that is all we would see by now.

Now that you mention that I couldn't get over how Mastro honed and stropped. Not only him but the Theirs Issard and Dovo videos also show some very heavy handed technique used to strop and hone.