Thread: Nick free stropping

As a newb starting out with a shavette, I still find value in learning how to strop. I heard you could use your palm and gave my safety blades a few laps on my palm. I realized that this is a very short area. I then moved on to the underside of my forearm. I figure if I nick myself there it would be a fast lesson to learn. Also, I wouldn't be messing up a good leather strop. So far so good, but if you all don't see me after a while, I must have made a bad nick on the wrist !

If you take a few sheets of newspaper, lay them on a table top near the edge, so that the scales will be clear of the table when stropping, you will have a pretty effective homemade strop! I have used this method when traveling without a strop to a good degree of success. Hope this helps keep your wrists from deflating.

You can also take newspaper and and fold it and clip one end with a Bulldog clip and tie to door like hanging strop. If you use to much pressure it pulls out of the clip, if you mess up the flip then you slice the paper. Great way to learn

Thanks for the advice gentlemen. I also know that I can use a pair of denim as well. I am lazy at times. However, if I use newspaper or old jeans, then I won't have the "feedback" of poor technique. I figure I would heal if I nick up my arms and save money (unless I need a trip to the hospital).

Originally Posted by coachschaller

Thanks for the advice gentlemen. I also know that I can use a pair of denim as well. I am lazy at times. However, if I use newspaper or old jeans, then I won't have the "feedback" of poor technique. I figure I would heal if I nick up my arms and save money (unless I need a trip to the hospital).

The "feedback" of poor technique does not have to be a sliced arm or palm.

This "feedback" that you're talking about coming in many ways:

1. Visual: Are you lifting the spine or edge while you're stropping....
Are you nicking the strop (denim will slice, and newspaper will cut right in half....if that happens, you have some serious slowing down to do).
2. Audible: Do both passes on the strop (forward and back) have the same or very similar sounds. If yes, you're pressure on each pass is close to consistent, if no, then you're pressure is varied....
3. Tactile: If you're stropping with the blade flat, it will feel completely different than if only a portion of the blade is on the strop or if you've lifted the spine, or if you've lifted the edge.

The key is to train yourself to hear, see, and feel all of these minute variations. I strop in a Zen like state....everything is working at the same time to produce that final edge.

Please don't use your skin as a sounding-board for your stropping technique. There's plenty of time for arms, legs, and thumbs when you get to honing.

Hope this helps a bit.

I think I would just buy a basic strop. it will last you the rest of your life.

I ought to write a book and call it "How I Stopped Worrying About Nicking It And Stropped My Razor." Strop nicks happen, especially when we're learning, but it gets better. It is sort of like the new car thing. Until someone chips your paint by opening their car door and smacking yours in a parking lot, you're worried about it. Once it is nicked the worry goes away.

Thanks for all the great advice gentlemen, this is a wonderful place with wonderful people to help one out. I will eventually buy some real gear, hopefully for father's day. I will be going to the classifieds here for a few straights in different categories to see what I like - big or small blade, smile or straight, grind, etc. I will also be purchasing a strop from one of the wonderful vendors here on SRP, nothing too fancy (for when I do nick it) but something that will stay for a while should I do well. I was mostly using my palm and arm for the flipping technique. Although my skin tends to be leathery (too much sun) I don't get much audible feedback of draw I have noticed I might get a shave or two more from my blades if I strop before and after...
Maxi, I was pulling for Vancouver since I live near Detroit and am a Wings fan. I have always enjoyed the CBC, especially for hockey and Olympic coverage. I also used to spend some time near Petersbourough several years ago. Thanks for the advice!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I ought to write a book and call it "How I Stopped Worrying About Nicking It And Stropped My Razor." Strop nicks happen, especially when we're learning, but it gets better. It is sort of like the new car thing. Until someone chips your paint by opening their car door and smacking yours in a parking lot, you're worried about it. Once it is nicked the worry goes away.

Like breaking in a new pair of shoes. Once they get a little scuffed, they become a part of you.

I'm also in the midst of upgrading from a Shavette-style razor to a full-on straight. I bought The Filly strop from RupRazor because it's a good, cheap strop for beginners to use so that they're not destroying an $80 strop as they learn. It's $22 in US funds (or about $21.50 in Canadian). At that price, I'd say to just get one.

The mistake I made was buying my new straight before discovering SRP. The classifieds are full of great blades at nice price points. I'm definitely going there for my second straight.