Thread: Stropping Video

Thanks Alan, great demonstration of what the 1961 barber manual calls the "flip." Also the first time I recall seeing the correct (IMO) grip for stropping a razor explained so well. The minimal wrist movement, tips of forefinger and thumb on the top and bottom of the tang, make for perfect stropping technique. Also the importance of the middle, ring and little finger supporting the scales.

When I first started stropping I was turning my wrist instead of flipping the razor. I had a tendency to nick my hanging strop on the end closest to my body in front of the hand holding the tension. When I learned how to hold the razor correctly and flip with minimal wrist movement I stopped nicking the strops.

Thanks Alan! That is a very clear demonstration of how to place the fingers and turn the blade on its spine. I will be bookmarking this video to give to the new guys I work with here in Minnesota.

Very well done,

good work with both videos, thanks

Thanks to the camera crew as well

Thanx guys. I forgot how hot that ZZ Top video was. Amazingly that camera work was all done with my laptop. It automatically zooms in and out on it's own. Pretty cool.

That is a fantastic stropping video. Will this one be going in the wiki video section?

Seeing that finger movement, and lack of wrist movement is much easier to comprehend than a written explanation.

I would have benefited greatly from this video when I was learning to strop!

Thanks very much,
Nathan

Great video!

Just submitted it to the Reddit straight/DE community here.

Hello, AFDavis11:

Well, sir, you've illustrated the two main elements — keeping the wrist steady and using the finger to pivot the razor — perfectly. The third element is obvious in the video — no pressure.

Excellent work and quite educational.

Regards,
Obie

Excellent & Bookmarked !

Will make a great learning guide

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

When I first started stropping I was turning my wrist instead of flipping the razor. I had a tendency to nick my hanging strop on the end closest to my body in front of the hand holding the tension. When I learned how to hold the razor correctly and flip with minimal wrist movement I stopped nicking the strops.

Thanks jimmy I have only shaved twice and have the same tendency of nicking the body end of my hanging strop... learning this flip technique will hopefully remedy that!

Thank you so much for this video. I have watched a ton of videos on stropping, but especially liked the grip you are using. If I recall correctly, some of the other videos said not to use your grip. But it seemed natural to me. After watching your video several times, I stropped today with no nicks of my strop, improved razor sharpness, and it took me more than half the time to finish up the stropping. Thanks again from this newb!
idkid