Thread: Can someone teach this guy how to strop a razor?

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Just cause there is an old guy dressed like a barber doing something with a straight razor doesn't mean it's right. Has that guy shaved you or someone you trust? Have you or someone you trust used his razors yourselves? If I told you I was Dr Holli4Pirating and I had a white coat and a stethoscope and a clipboard, would you believe my medical advice.

But, for the record, recent stropping threads from some of the SRP innovators have been talking about playing with "deflection" and "pressure."

Well doc you see I have this pain...

Like evrything else there are some people who break every rule for doing things yet they get perfect results. If I tried it that way I'd be in big trouble.

Originally Posted by jdurango

That old guy is the head barber at one of the oldest barbershops in Dublin (1929)....so I think it's fair to assume he knows what he's doing. I've seen a lot of discussions here about old pros that strop like this...just thought it was interesting.

And plus he has a white lab coat! I mean...c'mon, it's a WHITE lab coat! =)

Ever seen an old and well respected member of a group say or do something totally crazy before? I'd say again, have you been shaved by him, used one of his razors, or do you know anyone you totally trust who has? Maybe his edges are great, maybe they're not. Maybe he used to get great edges before he changed his technique and now they are terrible. Maybe his edges used to be terrible and then he changed his technique and now they are great.

We can sit and speculate all day.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Like evrything else there are some people who break every rule for doing things yet they get perfect results. If I tried it that way I'd be in big trouble.

Yup, you should see Livi strop. Scary stuff.

We have a member who does, indeed, get shaves from Liam at the Waldorf. Apparently, he also sharpens razors (on a coti, no less) and does it well.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post460340

So yeah, I think he's doing ok.

Originally Posted by JimR

We have a member who does, indeed, get shaves from Liam at the Waldorf. Apparently, he also sharpens razors (on a coti, no less) and does it well.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post460340

So yeah, I think he's doing ok.

There's one variable down.

I have found my shaves are smoother and better when my strop is not pulled as taught as suggested by many here. I find that slight deflection, as in that video, is very helpful.

YMMV.

I'm going to try a decent amount of slack next time... just for kicks. I'll tell you how it goes

not pulling the Strop completely tight is what did the trick for me
when I had stropping issues. Of course, the leather has to be very smooth and pliable to do this.
I now give the leather (kanayama horse) 1-2cm when stropping.

There is nothing wrong with it, as long as it works.
I never read a *law* on our wiki. I only see rules.
The difference is a rule can be broken and there are circumstance they don´t apply to.

So the rule to pull a a strop tightly is not a law

I'm a stropping noob and have been following the videos on here.

This guy looks like he is doing it properly - just way faster than what I could.

What was it that appears to be wrong?

- Speed?
- Not keeping the strop tight?
- Lifting the spine?

Guys stropping in white lab coats/barber smocks/straight jackets are usually mentally unstable individuals.

YouTube - Stropping