Thread: My stropping technique.

I see what you are saying. For me, I do not know how much downward pressure to speed Ratio I would need to ensure that I do no create a burr (that I read so much about) in my blade. I do know that speed and a feather light touch will not ruin my blade ( I haven't perfected stropping so I'm probably ruining my blade anyway).

Speed achieves nothing, especially if youre new to stropping. It may look cool in videos, but stropping can either make or break an edge. I strop slowly and get great results.

A certain amount of pressure yes, but no more force than the weight of the blade is required. too much force and the edge will become dull.

have you tried a paddle strop?

Originally Posted by Scipio

Speed achieves nothing, especially if youre new to stropping. It may look cool in videos, but stropping can either make or break an edge. I strop slowly and get great results.

A certain amount of pressure yes, but no more force than the weight of the blade is required. too much force and the edge will become dull.

have you tried a paddle strop?

This is true, to a point. The ridiculous speed some barbers/videos show is ridiculous, and you are better off starting VERY slow until you get the hang of it... but shooting for an ultimate speed of about 1lap/sec will get you superior results.

exactly why does speed give [I]superior[I] results?

Originally Posted by Scipio

exactly why does speed give [I]superior[I] results?

See my post earlier in this thread...it's all about achieving a critical amount of force to bend the steel, and you need the force in a lateral plane. The slower you go, the more of the force has to come from a vertical plane.

I'm currently around 45-50 laps per minute. I'm not to far off of a lap per sec. I thought based on the videos I was seening, I needed to be around 90 laps a minute, thank you for clarifying that to me. I think I will pay a little more attention to ensuring my blade is properly meeting the strop and gradualy build up to a 1:1 ratio.
@ scipio I don't have wooden strop I didn't like what I saw of people using them on vids, although I wouldn't say I would never give them a try.

60 isn't necessarily a hard, scientific number.... just a ballpark. YMMV, find what works for you. I definitely still strop more in the 40-50 range....tops....

Id recommend a paddle strop, theyre much easier to learn on as tension is not required. i have both types and use the paddle as my main strop, the hanging type is only for pastes. Each to their own, but i personally prefer the paddle

Originally Posted by Scipio

Id recommend a paddle strop, theyre much easier to learn on as tension is not required. i have both types and use the paddle as my main strop, the hanging type is only for pastes. Each to their own, but i personally prefer the paddle

I refer you to my earlier post: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...tml#post438227

what is easiest to learn is not always what's best to learn.

I have just about stopped shaving with a straight because I can't get it quite sharp enough any more, for a while I could but now, it just pulls a little too much and I am sure it is my stropping.

I have been holding the razor with my thumb pad on teh bottom of the tang and index finger on the spine/back of the razor, so that appears to be my problem.

But if I try with my thumb on the spine of the tang then when i begin to strop away from me the razor is facing the wrong way and the only way I can see to flip it is the wrong way, ie it wants to flip underneath, against the strop. It doesn't seem possible to flip the other way. i can't watch any of the videos either since my connection is to slow and they all jump.

I can't beleive I have come this far to find I have been getting it so wrong.

What a suitable new smiley they have added to teh collection.

But now I have hope of getting over this hurdle, so close but sooooo far from actually being able to shave painlessly and quickly.