Thread: Stropping speed?

I was wondering if stropping speed makes a difference? I find if I go too fast I have a tendency to dig the toe of the blade in a little too hard so I force myself to go slower.

It does make a difference. Too slow and you wont really get the benefit of it, but once you get up to a smooth comfortable speed, going faster doesnt improve the edge any.

If you're digging the toe in then slow down! All you're doing is risking dulling the razor and slicing your strop.

You should aim for a comfortable back and forth motion, almost like painting a wall. Dont do that "whapwhapwhap" that you see barbers doing in the movies, thats no good at all.

Have a look on youtube for Lynn's videos on stropping. Theres a section of his DVD, as well as some stropping at the '09 convention. You dont want to be stropping any faster than Lynn does at the '09 convention, and if thats too fast, aim for the speed on the DVD.

Good luck!

What speed should I use when stropping? (FAQ)

Too slow a speed has been shown to be ineffective when stropping.[15] More important than speed is the smoothness of the stroke, and to make sure that you never apply too much pressure while stropping. A nice, light, smooth stropping stroke is the best. Your stropping speed will increase naturally with experience. Keep in mind that razor stropping it is not race, and that just a smooth, steady rhythm seems to be the consensus.

From the looks of it you may need to post a stropping speed limit sign near your stropping zone



I will agree with Stu and Robin; let your stropping speed develop naturally in practice from a smooth, careful stroke

When I was a kid growing up in the '50s and '60s I watched with fascination barbers stropping their razors. In the '80s I had some barber friends who showed me how to strop. I can strop like a bat out of hell if I want to but as has been said a good steady stroke at a reasonable speed is the way to go. Less chance of a miscue and it is probably no better to strop faster than you can count the round trips.

On a different, but slightly associative subject, does speed apply to honing as well?

Check Lynns videos on youtube for honing examples.

Again, I wouldnt hone really slowly, nor would I try to do it at light speed. Just use a smooth, consistent stroke with a light and even pressure.

Originally Posted by Strikur

On a different, but slightly associative subject, does speed apply to honing as well?

Yes, a slow accurate stroke is much more important while honing. There is a small benefit to stropping with a little speed, not fast, but not slow.

Honing on the other hand must be done perfectly, so speed is an issue but from a little different perspective. There is little benefit to honing quickly, since you'll blow the edge repeatedly. So, the speed you want is slow because you have to maintain accurate strokes.

Additionally, without being able to explain it well, you should be able to learn to strop and make your mistakes when the blade edge is off the strop. Moving the razor down the strop isn't very difficult. On the other hand people work for years and still have lousy strokes on a hone.

Originally Posted by Strikur

I was wondering if stropping speed makes a difference?

According to my old barber, Jim, yes, absolutely.

Originally Posted by Strikur

I find if I go too fast I have a tendency to dig the toe of the blade in a little too hard so I force myself to go slower.

Never strop faster than you are comfortable doing.

Hello, everyone:

I keep my stropping at a comfortable speed. What exactly is comfortable? It is knowing I am not going too fast or too slow. It's just one of those things — you're neither a race horse nor a turtle.

I do not push the straight razor. I do not push the strop speed either. I know when the speed feels right. Besides, it's the quality of the stroke that counts.

Regards,

Obie