Stropping?

**BlacknTan** · 05-12-2010, 12:14 AM

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.

**AFDavis11** · 05-12-2010, 12:22 AM

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.

**niftyshaving** · 05-12-2010, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by BlacknTan

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.....

**Pete_S** · 05-12-2010, 04:30 AM

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.

**BeBerlin** · 05-12-2010, 06:40 AM

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

**PhatMan** · 05-12-2010, 06:47 AM

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

**Stubear** · 05-12-2010, 07:56 AM

+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!

**BlacknTan** · 05-12-2010, 09:13 AM

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!

**thebigspendur** · 05-12-2010, 10:59 PM

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.

**Disburden** · 05-13-2010, 12:19 PM

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.

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