Thread: What "should" stropping sound like?

Thanks for the input. I am not worried about the sound I produce while stropping I was trying to figure out a way to check myself.

A way to see if I was doing things right. I kept wondering every time I wiped the blade after a stropping session if I was do it right because I was getting a bit of "dust" or "residue" from the strop regardless of the amount of pressure applied, so I figured if I knew what it was supposed to sound like I could tell if I was doing something wrong.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Yes, I wouldn't be using sound as an indicator. As has been said the sound or lack of it will vary from razor to razor and grind to gring and strop material to strop material.

When I strop sometimes it sounds like cut glass and sometimes its totally silent. If your technique is good the job is being done. Don't fret over sound.

I sure would like to give a definitive answer, but my hearing is so poor that I'm sure what I happen to hear is completely different from what you may hear, unless you're wearing ear muffs when stropping.
And then it would be somewhat reminiscent of a car traveling slowly down a dirt road about a mile away.

Originally Posted by lesshairy

I am still learning so I hope I do not lead you in the wrong direction. I find that different razors and especially different grinds will give a different sound. A razor with a full hollow will sound different an a 1/4 hollow when stropping. I look for a consistent sound. I want the sound to be the same in both directions when stropping.

The videos are great, but the biggest help in improving my stropping technique was the honing and stropping section of the barbers manual in the wiki. I was using the wrong grip on the razor. By using the wrong grip, the sound of my stropping strokes were not consistent due to a difference in pressure that I was applying in the up stroke and back stroke. With proper technique my stropping is much better and so are my shaves.

I am not clear about your statement when you look at what comes off your blade after stropping. If you are using a clean leather strop, the blade should be clean with no visible residue.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Could you point me to the barbers manual you're referring to?

Its practically impossible to find, but I think this is a link.


File:Help Files 1961 Barbering Text - Shaving.pdf - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Here is the honing and stropping section

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...t_-_Honing.pdf


Probably the most important and succint document on straight shaving ever.