Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Stropping?

  1. #1
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    The great state of New York
    Posts
    511
    Thanked: 2259

    Default Stropping?

    I've been stropping for a few weeks now, and I believe my technique is getting worse rather than better.
    I have trouble flipping the razor on the spine.
    Should my thumb be alternating between the flats of the tang, or from the spine of the tang to the bottom, or from top jimps to bottom jimps?

    I seem to be more comfortable with my thumb going from one side (where the name stampings and such are) of the tang to the other...

    Is there a right way and a wrong way, or whatever is most comfortable to each individual?? I've watched youtube videos, and I see both methods in use, but as long as I'm still in the learning phase I might as well learn the more correct way.

  2. #2
    Member AFDavis11's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    5,726
    Thanked: 1486

    Default

    I believe the easiest method is to place the center of the pad of your thumb on the corner of the shank. It should touch the jimps and the corner of the shank. Don't press down too hard though. Just a little. This should produce the easiest smoothest motion. It does for me anyway.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to AFDavis11 For This Useful Post:

    BlacknTan (05-12-2010)

  4. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth niftyshaving's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Silicon Valley, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,157
    Thanked: 852

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BlacknTan View Post
    I've been stropping for a few weeks now, and I believe my technique is getting worse rather than better.
    I have trouble flipping the razor on the spine.
    Should my thumb be alternating between the flats of the tang, or from the spine of the tang to the bottom, or from top jimps to bottom jimps?

    I seem to be more comfortable with my thumb going from one side (where the name stampings and such are) of the tang to the other...

    Is there a right way and a wrong way, or whatever is most comfortable to each individual?? I've watched youtube videos, and I see both methods in use, but as long as I'm still in the learning phase I might as well learn the more correct way.
    As far as rotating the razor -- for a barber there is a correct
    way in the same way that typing and playing a piano need
    to be done in a correct way. Think repetitive stress injury...

    For an individual stropping one razor one shave a day it does
    not matter.

    Some razors have a shank and jibs that make rolling under the
    thumb easy others do not roll under my thumb as easy so I roll
    the wrist a bit more.

    In an ideal world roll under the thumb with a minimum roll of the wrist
    and a light touch at that.....

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to niftyshaving For This Useful Post:

    BlacknTan (05-12-2010)

  6. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    608
    Thanked: 124

    Default

    Yeah, do it however you want. As long as the razor gets stropped properly (not too much pressure, ect) it doesn't matter, just might take you a bit longer if you have to do something complicated to flip it.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Pete_S For This Useful Post:

    BlacknTan (05-12-2010)

  8. #5
    Retired Developer
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Berlin
    Posts
    3,490
    Thanked: 1903

    Default

    Have you taken a close look at the videos in Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki ?

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to BeBerlin For This Useful Post:

    BlacknTan (05-12-2010)

  10. #6
    The Electrochemist PhatMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Hastings, UK
    Posts
    1,714
    Thanked: 527

    Default

    Hi,

    Use whatever method you are comfortable with, and that gives good results

    Have a look at the stropping video by Sham (hi_bud_gl) (YouTube - straight razor stropping
    ) - it discusses the various holds & flipping.

    Best of luck !

    Have fun !

    Best regards

    Russ

  • The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to PhatMan For This Useful Post:

    BlacknTan (05-12-2010), Disburden (05-13-2010), markevens (06-09-2010), niftyshaving (05-13-2010)

  • #7
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alton, UK
    Posts
    5,715
    Thanked: 1683
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    +1, do what feels comfortable to you and works..!

    Try practicing with a butter knife or something, to get comfortable with the motion. That way you wont slice your strop up and you can get the feel for it before razor meets leather.

    Good luck!

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Stubear For This Useful Post:

    BlacknTan (05-12-2010)

  • #8
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    The great state of New York
    Posts
    511
    Thanked: 2259

    Default

    Thanks for all the good advice.

    I've pored over the Wiki, and watched a ton of stropping videos on youtube, but never seen Sham's video.... That was exactly what the Dr. ordered in addressing my problem. As a matter of fact, I've saved Sham's channel to My Computer I liked it so much!

    I've been flipping a razor while watching TV at night. Hopefully soon, muscle memory will take over.

    BTW, I find stropping to be, by far, the most difficult aspect of straight razor shaving... For me at least.

    Thanks once again for all the good advice!

    P.S.

    And, thanks to Sham for some great, and very informative video clips!
    Last edited by BlacknTan; 05-12-2010 at 09:15 AM. Reason: added thought

  • #9
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,736
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    I learned all this stuff on my own before this place existed so I have my own way of doing things so I turn my wrist which is technically wrong. I get a good result doing it my way. I can also do it the right way but I would have to practice to get up to speed and it's just not worth it to me. However if your first learning you should do it the right way.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  • #10
    I Bleed Slurry Disburden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Carmel, NY
    Posts
    2,458
    Thanked: 545

    Default

    I was going to explain the method Sham uses which is also used in old books and by old barbers, but then I saw the video of him explaining it. Thumb on top of the tang has helped my razors BIG TIME.

  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •