Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
  1. #1
    Senior Member Grump's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    285
    Thanked: 449

    Default Practice with a newspaper strop

    I hope this is in the proper place on the forum, if not will a Mod please move to a correct location, Thank you.

    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?

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Grump For This Useful Post:

    OiRogers (07-30-2010)

  3. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth ScoutHikerDad's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Upstate South Carolina
    Posts
    3,308
    Thanked: 987

    Default

    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
    There are many roads to sharp.

  4. #3
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Bodalla, NSW
    Posts
    15,595
    Thanked: 3747

    Default

    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.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  5. #4
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alton, UK
    Posts
    5,715
    Thanked: 1683
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    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!

  6. #5
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    10
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stubear View Post
    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!
    Thanks for the quick tip.

  7. #6
    Member OiRogers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    SW Ohio
    Posts
    62
    Thanked: 7

    Default

    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".

    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.

  8. #7
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Bodalla, NSW
    Posts
    15,595
    Thanked: 3747

    Default

    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

    If you try this practice method I suggest a weak 'anchor' ie a small clip with little grip.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to onimaru55 For This Useful Post:

    Grump (08-04-2010)

  10. #8
    Senior Member Sharp&Shiny's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Basingstoke England
    Posts
    1,027
    Thanked: 112

    Smile

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

  11. #9
    Member OiRogers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    SW Ohio
    Posts
    62
    Thanked: 7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by onimaru55 View Post
    Newspaper is damn strong & will not tear from excessive stropping pressure !
    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.

  12. #10
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Bodalla, NSW
    Posts
    15,595
    Thanked: 3747

    Default

    Ooh yeah, any edge contact is blatantly obvious
    Great learning tool & just the fact that it's paper psychologically lightens your touch.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

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
  •