Thread: (Paddle) stropping help needed

Oh Hi, SRP! I'm the new guy.

I've been straight razor shaving for about half a year now and I truly like it. I have two razors, but I almost exclusively use my wedgy. It came shaveready and it shaved wonderful but lately I've been having problems. I narrowed it down to my stropping technique; something I hadn't payed much attention too!

I nicked my first (cheapest) hanging strop and supplemented it with a Tony Miller 3" wide combo paddle strop. I liked it, but it seems my edge didn't. I got loads more irritation and thought the razor needed a touch-up, but stropping on the hanging (100x linen + 100x leather) strop again fixed everything. The paddle is undamaged and flat as a pancake so I can safely assume my technique is the problem. Now I know the difference, I get less irritation after I've used the hanging strop.

Is stropping on a paddle really different from a hanging strop? I've included a picture of my razor on the paddle. I do make sure the stabilizer doesn't touch the leather because that would lift the edge. Neither the spine nor blade are warped, but it has a very small smile.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, because now I do know that proper stropping is important.

A paddle does not flex like a hanging so it will strap more like a stone. I have a paddle but I rarely use it as I get a better shave from the hanging strap.

When you say nick, how bad was it? Usually you can take a pumice stone and smooth it out. I have had good luck with Eileen's tacky glue. Just make sure that the area is smooth if you go that route.

Did you tape your spine when you honed the blade? If so you will need to tape the spine to strap on a paddle because of the nonflex that you get.

JM2c

The hanging strop isn't nicked that bad and I still use it. I knew the risks when I started and therefor bought the cheapest I could find to practice on.

Later, I bought this strop to get a fresh start and chose a paddle to avoid flexing of the leather and I could strop while I sit. This paddle was quite expensive and I want to get the most out of it. As I understand it; you suggest to use the hanging strop instead.

(It's a combo paddle and I intended it to use as a pasted paddle too, so it'll never be useless)

What I stated is not gospel and I am sure that there are those that will refute it. It is just my experience that when I hone with a taped spine that anything that I lay my razor on that is firmer than a hanging strop I keep the spine taped. The theory is that the flex in the strap will compensate for the taped spine once the tape is removed.

I would inquire as to how it was honed. With or with out tape and see if that remedies the problem.

I was planning to visit that particulair barber for a shave, so I might as wel ask how he honed it.

Thanks

OXY

I Would say this.
your crabbing is wrong.
remember when you strop your wrist stays stable(means you use your thumb and turn the blade not your wrist) similar to robot action. hope i was clear enough
second no pressure please.
lastly have fun