Practice with a newspaper strop

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While on an afternoon walk downtown the other day I went past a barbershop my grandfather used to frequent. I entered and started a conversation with the 2 barbers that were there about razors and straights in particular. The older barber asked if I had a few minutes and took me to a nursing home where two elderly barbers resided. They were very interesting to listen to being in there eighties and early nineties. They spoke of Barber training in Milwaukee and Chicago, practice, and apprenticeship. They thought it was fantastic that there were still people practicing this art of shaving and they lit right up when given the opportunity to speak of it. A very interesting hour to say the least.

A most wonderful experience I will never forget.

What caught my attention was they spoke of learning to strop on a paper strop for a number of weeks to develop technique, pressure, and until they no longer tore or cut the paper. Both admitted that they still slightly nicked or scared a strop.) They would also make them for their apprentice barbers.

My question is have you practiced using a paper strop?

I haven't "practiced" on a paper strop. In fact, quite the opposite. My son and I learned to strop on a Tony Miller 3" Latigo I got him last Christmas, and I am proud to say we haven't even nicked it very much!

I DO frequently refresh an edge on colored newsprint, 50-100 strokes per side. There are a couple of threads about it on here.

The next idea I want to try is the one about getting great edges from stropping on leather rubbed with graphite/pencil lead, as someone posted recently. I just got through filing and honing my Fiskars axe, a hatchet, and a machete after a camping trip, and then stropping on carpet with good results

Would have been a great hour to spend with the "old ones" :)
Did they say how many sheets of newspaper to use etc.. ?
I imagine a single strip of paper secured by a bulldog clip would be a great learning tool.

Thats a really great idea! It would also teach you not to put loads of pressure on the strop, because if you did, you'd tear the newspaper.

Great idea, thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by Stubear

Thats a really great idea! It would also teach you not to put loads of pressure on the strop, because if you did, you'd tear the newspaper.

Great idea, thanks for sharing!

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Thanks for the quick tip.

Thanks for the tip... read it a few days ago and had the "hrmmm" moment.

I thought, "Self, if this is the correct way to strop... I use exponentially too much pressure on the strop and am probably damaging my blades".:banghead:

Over the past several days I tried honing on a single strip of news print to get the pressure down. Using that same pressure on my "real" strop has yielded the best shaves I've had yet.

I thought my shaves were good prior... the blades have become noticeably more comfortable. Thanks. Your quick post has made me a better shaver. :beer2:

I just tried a single 2"x16" newspaper strip & here are my observations.

Newspaper is damn strong & will not tear from excessive stropping pressure !

Using a 2"wide bulldog clip I can use many times more pressure than what I would normally use or recommend . I could also pull hard enough on the paper to "cup" the edges.

Using a small 1" bulldog clip I could not pull the newspaper hard enough for the edges to "cup" & excess pressure from the blade simply pulled the paper loose. This was the ideal setup to best mimic my usual pressure :beer1:

If you try this practice method I suggest a weak 'anchor' ie a small clip with little grip.

Thanks for posting this.
I'll give it a tryout tomorrow, my stropping could probably do with a bit more refinement.
Cheers Paul

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Newspaper is damn strong & will not tear from excessive stropping pressure !

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Very true... it will however cut very easily and reveal shabby technique of motion.
It did have the effect of making me lighten my strokes considerably though... and that has been a positive change in my habits.

Ooh yeah, any edge contact is blatantly obvious :)
Great learning tool & just the fact that it's paper psychologically lightens your touch.

I have not tried stropping with pencil lead, but it sounds interesting.
On camp knives anyway I have had great success with a belt and candle soot, it's extremely fne and actually brings a mirror finish to titanium, Which most people say can't be made mirror like...
Well I found a way, and I am sharing it now for the first time ever.
I hope you'll appreciate this fact.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Would have been a great hour to spend with the "old ones" :)
Did they say how many sheets of newspaper to use etc.. ?
I imagine a single strip of paper secured by a bulldog clip would be a great learning tool.

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Great way to practice. I just tried this and like it a lot. Is this a good practice to hit the newspaper a few times after the leather?

Thanks for the tip!

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Originally Posted by Shoki

Great way to practice. I just tried this and like it a lot. Is this a good practice to hit the newspaper a few times after the leather?

Thanks for the tip!

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I never really thought about the polishing properties of newspaper but I know some use it. AFAIK leather is always last.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

I never really thought about the polishing properties of newspaper but I know some use it. AFAIK leather is always last.

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Cool I have been cutting up strips of newspaper all day. It seems smooth and easy. The more I drink the more I nick :)

The newspaper is a great step!

LOL ... Maybe you're not drinking enough. :p