Okay, so here is an attempt at a stropping video. I'm trying to video in very close so you can see the finger motion.
YouTube - 110103-193326.wmv
YouTube - 110103-194239.wmv
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Okay, so here is an attempt at a stropping video. I'm trying to video in very close so you can see the finger motion.
YouTube - 110103-193326.wmv
YouTube - 110103-194239.wmv
Very nicely done Alan !! you have one of the smoothest stropping stokes I have seen, but hey I have been telling you that since the 2009 NC meet, now everyone can see it...
Very classy too... with the Tie :D
YouTube - ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man (music 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,:tu
good work with both videos, thanks
Thanks to the camera crew as well :D
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
A++++ that should take all the questions out of the mystery of stropping!!!
Nice form. Hypnotic to watch.
--Shoki
Excellent video, Thanks!
Excellent & Bookmarked !
Will make a great learning guide :tu
Thanks, Alan, for the video.
All--I saw Alan accomplish this smooth technique today in his home. (Read about my sojourn to Alan's place.)
Alan's even more impressive face to face (I guy with straight shaving, that has to be something of a pun).
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
Thank you so much for the great video! I now understand what I have been doing wrong. I have been using my wrist instead of my fingers. I am glad I bought an inexpensive strop at first. It has several nicks and cuts.
Nice form you have there!
I made a video about strops and stropping in general, I hope its ok if a place it here.
YouTube - Straight razor stropping
That was a rather charming and informative video. You answered a lot of questions I didn't even know I had. (I found the "friction-warming" bit of info particularly useful.) Thank you for sharing.
Your videos on stropping are excellent. Very detailed. Love your brushes. Will be looking at your other videos. Thanks so much.
Nice video AFDavis11. I realize what I was doing wrong. I was keeping my wrist still, I was using my fingers to rotate and I was using light pressure and never letting the razor stop.
I was not wearing a tie!
Thank you for the great info!!!
Just remember to only strop on the back side of a tie.
Thanks very much for the wonderful stropping instructional. I like how smooth your flip the razor, it's amazing to watch actually.
Also thanks for mentioning no.2 pencil on strops. I use one of my cheap leather strops with graphite pencil now and I love it.
AFDavis11, I just practiced my stropping technique after watching your video. It has helped immensely. The finger placement changed everything. Thank you very much for helping. Going for my 3rd straight shave tomorrow, 1st with the Genco I just got from nicknbleeding. Im sure my improved stropping will improve my shave!
No doubt about it. I can strop now!
Great shave today!
This makes me want to buy a paddle strop. I'm getting tired of finding something to anchor my strop to and then have to pull it tight the whole time i'm stropping.
Thanx guys. Stropping is a lot more difficult than most people perceive. Learning to get the razor to shave effectively and feel smooth and silky on the skin is the prime objective of stropping and takes a long time to master.
Really useful video for all - new and experienced - thank you :)
You're welcome.
At the risk of being a party pooper, I know I'm picking up on minuter but,,,,
When flipping the blade I feel it is good practice to make sure the spine is always in constant contact with the surface of the strop.
This isn't a problem if the blade is completely still before flipping so maybe I'm being picky.
otherwise the previous laps count for nothing, you may as well start over.
I know I'm fastidious about this stuff and stropping will only provide a temporary a one point increase on hht, but feel it is important to point out the importance of establishing good habits to newbies.
Respectfully
JG
....great video............. Thank you for taking the time to make it for us newbies...............!!!
Great Vid !!!!
The most useful stropping lesson ever had!
Which kind of strop is the one used in the video?
You're welcome. That is a custom Tony Miller 3inch wide paddle Leather/Balsa strop. One of the few of it's kind in the world. The balsa is impregnated with .5 CrOx.
Never seen anything like that.
And you probably never will again. He made it for me based on my specifications. For some reason it was not a good seller and he discontinued it.
I have looked at your videos very closely, and I've noticed that you put a very light pressure and make a short backward and forward movement. I've seen another video where the movement (on a hanging strop) was very wide and with noticeable pressure.
Do it depends on strops or is it a different technique?
I have a large frame strop (leather and denim) and I make 20 passages (for razor side) on leather before shaving, and 10 on every side of strop before putting razor away, which advice could you give me?
Ciao, Lucio.
This video was designed to emphasize finger motion. On a longer strop you should make a longer stroke. For pressure I use about twice the weight of the blade when stropping. I use a light touch generally, but, because I am using a paddle strop it might appear that I am using even less than I really am.
If you are uncertain about pressure, I suggest applying enough pressure to feel some draw and test shave. Then if desired strop again with slightly more pressure and see if you find improvement. It is easier to learn to strop if you know how to hone and can correct an edge if needed. Never let a hanging strop sag.
Alan:
Video was great and very informative. I look forward to future productions.
Just got my strop today! Quick question Alan. When you're stropping, is the whole face of the razor running against the strop or is just the edge of the blade? I'm assuming just the edge but in the video it seemed like the whole face of the blade was flat against the strop.