Please review my stropping (I even made a video)

Hello dear community,

I'm a beginner and I need you to review my stropping. I have been shaving with this razor for almost a month. I had a shavette before ordering this from SRD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOguj...el_video_title

I have to say that my razor is a new production Dovo Astrale which is a half hollow and the strop is a SRD 2'' latigo.

-I put a bit of pressure because this has been giving me smoother results. Is that OK?

-Is the strop tight/flat enough?

-While I strop, is the sound that of a proper stropping technique?

The razors passes the HHT well after making this video. However, I would really appreciate it if you tell me what my errors are.
Thank you very much.

Here's what I think:

I like the taughtness of your strop. It looks just right.

However, I would suggest looking at the stropping video of AFDavis11. Watch his wrist movement. His wrist does not move, and his fingers and thumb perform the flip. Your wrist is performing the flip. The issues here are the inconsistent pressures. Using the fingers to flip the razor, and keeping the wrist straight, allows you to control the pressure on both the down and back passes. Wrist action varies that pressure, thereby smoothing one side of the blade, and shaping the other.

Also, lifting the blade off the strop may cause issues sooner or later. It makes it a tad easier to put large gashes in your fabric or leather.

You're off to not a bad start, but now it's time to tweak your technique a bit.

Thanks for the video ....(I hope I didn't come across as harsh....I was going for frank and truthful).

I wouldn't worry too much about the wrist thing, if you are comfortable and in control as you are. I do prefer to always keep the spine of my razor on the strop, but again, if you are comfortable with your stroke that's what counts.

You say you are getting good results, and that is what is most important.

If it works, it works. But I'd say there's too much wrist action. I find it easier with the strop way lower as well.

I made a short video clip some time back to show my technique flipping the razor with my fingers, and not using the wrist.
Personally I find that makes for a more consistent stroke.

‪stropping‬‏ - YouTube

I kept the wrist locked in the beginning, but I nicked my strop many times. I have found it easier to turn the razor with my wrist.
I would try keeping the wrist locked later... I just hope it doesn't cause me to nick my strop again. Already sanded it twice.

Thanks for your feedback.
Any other thoughts? How do you find the speed?

I turn the blade with my thumb and forefinger. I don't "lock" my wrist, but I don't use it to turn the razor. Some reasons I avoid turning the razor with my wrist and use my fingers instead are:

1. I find I can get longer strokes by using the fingers instead of the wrist. Longer strokes allow me to get
more effect out of each stroke.

2. When I use the fingers only, I find it easier to get a repetitive stroke and keep the blade flat on the strop.

3. Using the fingers eliminates any variance in pressure that using the wrist may place on the strop.

4. I believe using the wrist repetitively will eventually inflame the muscles, ligaments and tendons used in turning the wrist that way.

If you get good results using the wrist, that's fine. The question, though, is: Would you get better results using the fingers only?

That looks pretty good to me too. I'd slow down just a tad because you aren't really developing a good swing from one direction to the other. It's more of a fast swish away followed by another fast swish toward you. You want the two motions to compliment each other. Try and work on the motion being smoother back and forth. The extreme height of the end of the strop will make this a little harder.

Looks like you are using a light touch and that the strop is only deflecting a little bit. I'm very impressed. And, yes, a little pressure is just fine.

I would prefer you use much less wrist movement, but, nicking your strop is unacceptable. The fact that it's almost vertical may be helping you prevent unequal pressure.

The strop seems to have a tendency to twist a little on the way up. Try and keep the entire thing "flat".

Absolutely, consider keeping the razor flat on the strop, but not at the expense of nicking the strop.

The fact that you did so well for a month speaks well for your overall technique.

I think if you just relax your arm a touch at the elbow you'll develop a smoother stroke and work a little better from one stroke direction to the other. Think about how smoothly a skater flows from one leg motion to the other or a skiier as he moves through the flags. Smooth. . .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

That looks pretty good to me too. I'd slow down just a tad because you aren't really developing a good swing from one direction to the other. It's more of a fast swish away followed by another fast swish toward you. You want the two motions to compliment each other. Try and work on the motion being smoother back and forth. The extreme height of the end of the strop will make this a little harder.

Looks like you are using a light touch and that the strop is only deflecting a little bit. I'm very impressed. And, yes, a little pressure is just fine.

I would prefer you use much less wrist movement, but, nicking your strop is unacceptable. The fact that it's almost vertical may be helping you prevent unequal pressure.

The strop seems to have a tendency to twist a little on the way up. Try and keep the entire thing "flat".

Absolutely, consider keeping the razor flat on the strop, but not at the expense of nicking the strop.

The fact that you did so well for a month speaks well for your overall technique.

I think if you just relax your arm a touch at the elbow you'll develop a smoother stroke and work a little better from one stroke direction to the other. Think about how smoothly a skater flows from one leg motion to the other or a skiier as he moves through the flags. Smooth. . .

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I'll try to improve it and see if I can control it with my fingers only. The fact is that for now I find it easier to keep the razor flat turning it with my wrist. I'll let you know how my technique improves.

Thank you very much.

I wonder if it will be easier to control the flip of the razor if you lower the hanging point of the strop?

Yeah, I had similar issues with the finger flip and nicking the strop until I lowered my strop to about waist height. This allowed me to relax my arm a bit more and made it much more comfortable to flip with the thumb and index instead of the wrist. No nicks since (knock on wood). Best of luck!

I think I will lower it tomorrow. Thank you all for your help.

I lowered it tonight. I hanged it on the door knob. I find it's easier to control the pressure this way.
You guys are really helpful.
Thank you.

When a new guy comes to my home I ask them to demonstrate their stropping for me. Every one of them strops to fast and most are to light on the stroke. I see that your pressure is about right but I would ask that you slow down your stroke a lot and really "feel" the contact and distribution of pressure.

Hope this helps, :D

Hello CoffeeAddict:

I agree with many of these gentlemen. The one thing I would add is what my friend Mainaman advises: lower the strop's position. I keep mine at about waist level.

Regards,

Obie

It looks pretty good to me..! :)

The main thing is you're getting results you like, as Dylan says. The way I strop differs to the way you strop, and your way will differ again to the next person, but if you have a great shaving edge afterwards then you did it right and thats all that matters.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stubear

It looks pretty good to me..! :)

The main thing is you're getting results you like, as Dylan says. The way I strop differs to the way you strop, and your way will differ again to the next person, but if you have a great shaving edge afterwards then you did it right and thats all that matters.

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That's exactly what I have been thinking. I've seen many guys stropping in a very different way to what it's recommended.
Just look at how loose the barber is holding the strop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h1GC34yyKE

And also look at this other one at Taylor of Old Bond Street (in 1:16)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pycsaCLj5KE

By the way, I put my strop hanging on the wall again. Having hung it on the door knob caused me to nick it twice again. I find much easier to see what I'm doing by hanging it on the wall.