Average stropping speed on Hanging strops

Hey guys I was thinking about this today, and thought this might be a good thing to actually figure out between all of us...

Strop on your hanging leather strop for 30 seconds, time it out, and count it out, as best as you can..
Now for those of us that hone professionally DO NOT do the high speed thing OK, I know my stropping speed is higher when I am stropping in the razors after honing, then when I am stropping my personal razor before a leisurely Sunday shave... Use the normal speed for this poll please :)

And be honest this is not a race, let's try and get a real number here for possible use for giving to the new guys...

Let's also ask that only people that have been Straight Razor shaving at least 3 months and feel confident in their stropping abilities answer the poll...

I left the names posting hidden, I am hoping for honesty here not bragging rights :)

Thanks In Advance :)

I will put up some numbers and will add more if needed either faster or slower rates, I am going to try it on my shave tomorrow morning....

What length stroke?

I do 1 pass back and forth per second, so my most used speed is 30 passes per 30 sec.
I try to avoid going faster because I can get sloppy, stropping is very boring exercise for me.

Depends on mood, but a comfortable stropping speed is about 20-25/30 sec for me. I go faster only for razors that were freshly honed to speed up things.

It depends on the razor. Some feel really comfortable in the hand and can quickly be flipped at the top of the stroke whereas others are not so comfortable and take longer. At best, probably one stroke per second and at worst one stroke every second and a half.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

What length stroke?

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I was trying to qualify that too Dylan, then decided that the law of averages would absorb the guys with short strops as well as those with much longer strops :)

Seems that the hanging strops I have, average at about 16 inches of actual stropping surface ... But I was just thinking too that actual length of the stropping stroke would become a function of biometrics at a certain point wouldn't it ??????

I figured about once a second a while back. Now when I strop I don't count laps I just strop for a specific period of time. Makes it easier for me to pay attention. I usually do 40-50 on fabric the either 30 or 60 on leather. Sometimes if I think the blade may be at its refresh state, I do 120 on leather.
You should add to the poll how many strops you've cut getting to the level of stropping you are now at.

22 strokes in 30sec for me. That's normal relaxed pace.

I voted 20-30. I only strop fast if time is an issue.

I tend to start with the strop fairly taut, with faster laps. As I progress, I slacken the strop a little, and also ease back on the pace; I don't exactly know how or why I started doing this, but it works really well for me. Anyways, I tested it four times, and I averaged 36 strokes.

Geez I don't know. :thinking: I would have to set up a timer, count ..... not too fast and not too slow for me ..... just right. :)

I went 20-30, it's slightly skewed at the moment as I managed to cut through my right thumb's tendon two weeks ago while sharpening a scythe, so am having to strop left handed at the moment. Surprisingly (to me at least) the speed came quite easily, it's the correct contact that's the problem. I doubt that I strop faster right handed but, at the moment, I'm definitely better with the dominant right hand.

21 in 30 seconds here.

It might depend on the razor's balance, etc., but I'm at 30 exactly, every time so far. They don't call me the "stropping machine" for nothin'.

Mine is just barely setting the percentage off... I tried it 3 times and hit 42-40-43 :)

I strop at the same rate whether it's my razor or someone else's.
My rate is 36 strokes per 30 seconds. I timed it three times and each was pretty much the same given that I was just going by the sweep dial of my watch.

In answer to the other question, I have never cut or even nicked a strop.

I've been straight shaving nearly everyday for almost a year. I'm confident in my stroke although I have nicked my strop. I timed it three times and came to 23 strokes/30 sec each time. I guess I could go faster but I'm happy with this.

...Ray

82 round trips in 60 seconds @ normal speed

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Originally Posted by Utopian

In answer to the other question, I have never cut or even nicked a strop.

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You're not doing it right.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

What length stroke?

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Oh, so size matters?

On average I'd say I'm in the 30-40 range. I can go faster, but not very often, and we are talking averages here ;)

Both hands were busy so I couldn't key the stop watch. Darn

:banghead:

I voted 30-40.
I can go faster also but I can not see any improvement of the edge in going faster, just risk for strop cutting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

What length stroke?

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I think hes talking about stropping you razor not.............lol

If Im in no hurry its between 19-25, doing it well is better than doing it fast IMHO

Just timed it with the help of my wife. 45 laps per 30 seconds stropping normally. Good idea for a poll :)