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

Looks to me like he's demonstrating how not to strop . If this is a demonstration of proper stropping technique , then what is improper technique ?

I like the way Mr. Finnegan keeps his strop hopping. Quite the flair has he.

Originally Posted by dave5225

Looks to me like he's demonstrating how not to strop . If this is a demonstration of proper stropping technique , then what is improper technique ?

He's not trying to show people "how to strop", this is a documentary of how he does it. There is a series of videos about the Waldorf barbershop in Dublin, Ireland, showing this barber (Liam is his name, I believe) and his traditional way of doing things. There is also a video of him sharpening a straight on a Coti, using slurry. As has been stated, there are members who have gotten shaves from him and were very happy.

The thing that gets me about this thread is, this is a LEAST the 4th thread I've seen about this particular barber, and people always start with the attitude that he doesn't know what he's doing, because he doesn't do things the way people at SRP do. The inherent assumption, that we all know better than anyone else, is troubling.

Mastro Livi does it differently, Liam does it differently, hell probably 99% of the people who have used a straight razor in all of human history have done it differently.

Doing it differently does NOT equal doing it wrong.

My dear JimR:

You speak words of wisdom. I believe as you do in this.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by JimR

He's not trying to show people "how to strop", this is a documentary of how he does it. There is a series of videos about the Waldorf barbershop in Dublin, Ireland, showing this barber (Liam is his name, I believe) and his traditional way of doing things. There is also a video of him sharpening a straight on a Coti, using slurry. As has been stated, there are members who have gotten shaves from him and were very happy.

The thing that gets me about this thread is, this is a LEAST the 4th thread I've seen about this particular barber, and people always start with the attitude that he doesn't know what he's doing, because he doesn't do things the way people at SRP do. The inherent assumption, that we all know better than anyone else, is troubling.

Mastro Livi does it differently, Liam does it differently, hell probably 99% of the people who have used a straight razor in all of human history have done it differently.

Doing it differently does NOT equal doing it wrong.

Thanks Jim! This was pretty much my exact point! It's funny that you mention the bowler and his "unorthadox" technique. It's the same in music...according to "classical" guitar technique, you're supposed to keep your thumb on the back of the neck and never bring it up over the top like you're gripping a bat. Nonetheless, doing this exact thing is a huge part of many guitar player's techniques, including my own...and a few amateurs you've prolly never heard of like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed.... =)

The point is, one you know the "rules" and why they are in place, you'll know why you should break them =)

That said, I don't have the experience to strop like this guy (Liam). I'm sure it takes decades of practice...and remember, this guy isn't just shaving himself every day, he probably shaves 3-5 customers every day too, which means he's got a lot of experience with a strop and razor.

In other words, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS!!!

And by "kids" i mean newbs like me

That strop looks very flexible. Maybe his unconventional method works on that strop, but it might not on mine.