Thread: Stropping Questions

I think my technique is slowly improving, but I still have a few questions regarding stropping.

1. I notice slightly more draw as the razor travels away from me versus as it travels back. I assume this is indicating room for improvement on my technique. It probably means I'm unconsiously putting a bit of preassure on the blade as it travels away from me. I am doing my best to put no preassure other than to ensure the blade remains in contact with the leather the whole path. Any thoughts?
2. I notice as I speed up my laps, when I flip the blade (spind down of course), I tap the blade a bit on the leather. It's very light of course, but I'm concerned that this too is a bad technique that I should keep from happening. Just how smooth should that role to the other side be?
3. How easy is it to dull a razor on a strop and how easy is it to fix? While most of my shaves are getting pretty good, I'm still strugling a bit going ATG. My biggest problem is it's not smooth and the blade sticks and jumps a bit, especially near my chin where my beard is especially dense and course. I'm not sure if this is a shave technique issue or a blade sharpness issue or both. Since I don't think I'm ready to add honing to the mix, my blades are sharpened by honemeisters, but at $20 a pop and a couple weeks round trip, I can't afford too many hone jobs. Once properly honed, I would hope it would last a few months. Is that a propper expectation or is it relatively easy to dull a blade while stropping? And no, I'm not rolling my razor on the blade, I haven't knicked my strop in over two months (knock wood), and my razors have been honed since the last time I knicked my strop.

Of course the draw should be the same however it's not only you it's also dependent on the leather itself. As long as you are getting a good result your doing ok.

Old time barbers, when they stropped the razor they would slap it down on the strop really hard.Of course it's not the edge of the blade they were slapping so as long as its the spine or some other part, not the edge your ok.

Its very easy to dull a razor on a strop and what you basically have is a job similar to a touchup. If you have the hones and skill its a quick job. As far as how long an edge lasts that depends on the razor and you. It could be 15 shaves and it could be 200.

I'm having the same problem. The draw feels different coming back versus going away. I'm worried a lot about dulling my blade on the strop. I"m more worried about dulling it than cutting myself.

Hi,

Some strops that have a suede/nap finish to them do have a slightly different draw in each direction; I have a couple like this.

Try running the tips of your fingers up and down the strop to see if this is so in your case.

Have fun !

best regards

Russ