Thread: Common stropping mistakes?

Originally Posted by pjrage

The hardest part for me so far, and the reason I feel the need to go so slow, is that it's so easy for the blade to not be perfectly flat on the strop. A tiny tiny movement, up or down, of the handle, and the blade is not flat on the strop. Plus, if the strop is twisting in it's swivel a little between or during a stroke, you have to constantly be adjusting the handle of the razor to adjust the levelness of the blade.

how do you mount your strop? in the beginning I had the same type of movement using a thong on a door knob, then i mounted a permanent ring on the wall slight above waist high, and now its solid, no movement, and much more productive stropping

I actually have mine mounted on my towel bar in the bathroom. It's roughly in the middle of my chest. I've really been buckling down and practicing my stropping, and it's much improved. I truly feel like I'm getting the right strokes now, and my shaves have really seen a difference. I've actually been able to pick up speed too. My original problem, I think, was my flipping, but I've gotten a much better feel for it.

I think I'm going to try installing a hook at waist level and see how that feels too.

Have been following this thread with a great amount of interest, especially after reading other threads by members who claim that stropping is KING. I have taken to listening a lot more to the sounds the razor makes when I strop. Here are some examples from the wiki on stropping:

Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

There is a lot more to this than I originally thought. Challenging to say the least. I like it that way.

Many thanks (literally, I've left many) to everyone who has contributed their experience and knowledge on this thread. I'm also coming to the conclusion that my straight shaving leaves a lot to be desired because my stropping does--though I also think one of my blades needs honing, the other was represented as shave-ready by the SRP member I bought it from, and I feel sure that it is. (Or was, if I haven't damaged the edge too much by my inept stropping! ) You've all given me a lot of useful information to practice with this weekend.

Rich

I think pull your stroke at an angle with the point end trailing, if you strop completly perpendicular it is easier to roll the edge. This works for me.
Mike

Thanks to all of you who've posted. I've learned a lot.

In my experience, the amount of pressure used depends on the type of strop. With softer surfaces, light pressure seems to work for me; with harder surfaces some firm but moderate pressure is necessary. When I started to use firm, moderate pressure on my Illinois 361 strop I got much sharper and smoother edges on my razors. This seems to be especially important when preceeded with a few passes on the canvas.

Hope this helps,
Jeff

I notice some comments regarding "slapping" at the flip-end of the stroke. In my experience this does not cause any ill effects to the edge. If this was a problem then Rolls Razors would not have invented their razor. If you maintain a constant tension to the strop and you perform a smooth 'flip' with the razor, there will be no damage.
On the horse hide having no draw point. This is very true when the strop is new and not dressed etc. With a good dressing, horse can have as much draw as latigo., even if only given a good oiling (not a recomendation btw )
Stropping has always been the poor brother to honing on this forum, but I sense that the playing field is leveling some what lately which is a good thing.

PuFF

A few people have referenced the linen sides of the strops...

My strop has a canvas side... not linen (latigo hide on the other)... will the canvas side have the same effect as linen would?

Tried varying my height... finally got a good TPT on parts of my blade, but not the center portion yet. Hopefully I can bring the blade back to a good edge without having it rehoned...

Definitely an interesting (and painful) process...

- HJ

From what i recall reading it doesnt matter what kind of fabric it is...they are all about the same ...