Thread: Help me master my strop

I'm using this strop


You guys recommended I get a hanging strop, so I went to our 'classic shaving shop' here in Brussels (not related to the classicshaving website whatsoever). The lady told me that strop is very good and advised against me purchasing a hanging strop (from her store!). I asked her anyway to show me one, and unfortunately they only had the good looking expensive kind so I decided to come back to the forum.

Basically I told the lady that in the 'other' shop they had sold me some green chrom ox ith it. She said her father always said to avoid the pastes in the first place, and just use the green side as it is.

Now however, I'm not sure anymore which side I should use, and when to use it.

I was under the understanding I should do my first strops on the 'soft leather' side, and then finish some more strops (the double) on the green side, which is basicaly green... leather I think (?)

Could you guys offer me some help?

I am planning on getting a hanging strop, just to get rid of the question 'Is my strop good or bad' and get on with shaving :-D But untill then, I truly would appreciate your help.

The green side has chrome oxide. The light brown is plain leather. Do your regular stropping on the light brown. Use the green side for occasional touchups.

Make sure to tighten the strop before using (you do this by twisting the handle). Loosen it before storing (so the leather doesn't get warped).

Most guys find hanging strops more convenient for daily use, but what you've got there is a perfectly good strop. It's called a "loom strop."

Dito ... With a nice loom strop like that you really shouldn't need a hanging strop.

X

Good news :-)

But you guys are sure stropping on the light leather is ok? I mean, it's really soft! I can only compare it to the leather that is turned inside out, know what I mean? Like, it's leather, but not like your leather jacket, it's more like leather that has been... softened?

If so, thanks a ton for your replies, as I'm not too eager to spend 80 EUR on a hanging strop in my local shop.. (that buys me a new straight!)

Originally Posted by xman

Dito ... With a nice loom strop like that you really shouldn't need a hanging strop.

X

Since I already answererd this question in your other thread, I won't reiterate. http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...help-here.html

But I respectfully disagree with X-man on not needing a hanging strop. I own what looks like exactly the same loom strop myself. It IS a nice loom strop. Good for a pasted touch-up, which resembles honing in the reverse direction. But for daily stropping, I consider it too short. It's 19 cm (7.5") long. It is very difficult to develop a decent "stropping stroke" on such a short length.
In a pinch, it can be used, but it is far from ideal, all in my humble opinion of course.

Bart.

Originally Posted by Jantjeuh

Good news :-)

If so, thanks a ton for your replies, as I'm not too eager to spend 80 EUR on a hanging strop in my local shop.. (that buys me a new straight!)

33,50€
Barbershop Classics The Shaving Shop

Daily stropping is done on clean leather. It's ok that the leather feels very soft, or even velvety.

Bart.

I'm still mystified on the matter of the sides of my strop. Are you all saying I can use both sides, or only the non-green side? I posted it in this forum because I saw you had a specific strop forum, please don't take this as me spamming in multiple fora :-)

So, again, I use BOTH sides, or just one side (the non-green) side?

Use the plain side for every day stropping.

Use the green side to touch up the edge instead of a hone.

The green stuff is chromium oxide and is abrasive. It will refine the edge of your razor, but is not needed all the time.

Enjoy,

Originally Posted by Bart

... I respectfully disagree with X-man on not needing a hanging strop. .

I submit that there's a subtle difference between needing and wanting. To each his own and if I had a nice loom strop like that, I'd probably still want a hanger too.

X

Subjectively, I agree with Bart. Loom strops feel too small for me.

But some guys actually like 'em, and they can be mastered.

There is a youtube video somewhere of a barber really going to town on one. His stroke was actually longer than the strop itself. That is, the razor was flying back and forth over about a two-foot arc, landing on the 8-inch strop with a hearty "thwap" on each pass. Imagine an F-16 doing figure-8s over an aircraft carrier, landing on the strip and taking off again without slowing down. It sounded like tribal drumming, and it looked hella cool.

I'm not suggesting this is how a newb should tackle things.

I'm just sayin'.