Is this google video a sane way to paddle strop?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...36396808228278
I'm be starting with just a norton 4k/8k and a hanging strop, but I'd like to know.
Printable View
Is this google video a sane way to paddle strop?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...36396808228278
I'm be starting with just a norton 4k/8k and a hanging strop, but I'd like to know.
In a word...no.
RT
Not exactly, but it does work to smooth out a wicked sharp edge. It took me about 10 minutes to replicate the "swing". Its power is in the push off once you contact the strop, not in the hit. Hitting the strop flat is important and doesn't really provide any stropping benefit (therefore, why bother?).
I would suspect lots of guys that don't know how to strop or aren't practiced would screw up a blade easy with this method, which even I found a little difficult to replicate. Again it took about 10 minutes of practice.
Since I have actually used this technique to great effect I think you can understand why I get a little confused about guys who won't use any pressure stropping, but you can imagine if you hit that paddle at the wrong angle you could kiss you edge goodbye in just as dramatic an effect.
That is very sane way of paddling your razor. But, remember, that guy is a barber, with probably decades of straight razor experience...
nenad
That looks like a loom strop, not a paddle strop. AFAIK loom strops feel more like hanging strops than paddle strops but with the tension pre-set by the loom mechanism. Not sure if that's important...
If you're starting with a hanging strop, have you checked out the ubiquitous Mr Ham?
http://www.heavenlyharvestinc.com/im...m good one.AVI
I wouldn't try to replicate this technique in the first instance (or perhaps even in the second or third instances...:) ), particularly the lifting of the blade at the end of each stroke. But I found this footage useful in terms of watching how he flips the razor on its spine.
James.
Obviously he has learned/practiced this stroke for some time.
It is not suitable for new guys! Stick with the basics at first and then move on if your so inclined.
Just my two cents,:)
I think I would have a great amount of trouble trying to replicate this gentleman`s methods on the hanging and paddle strops,I could see a great many good edges absolutly buggered before I got it right.
Not for me I`m affraid
Kind regards Peter
For those of us at the intermediate level I wouldn't be surprised if I was a barber and stuck with a short loom/paddle strop if I ended up doing just like he does. I can see a wicked draw getting produced at the end of the video, or atleast it appears that way.
I'm not really clear though how barbers knew when they had screwed up, I mean I think I use entirely my perception of how the blade feels on my face to know when its perfect as opposed to good. I wonder if this technique might be better for a barber, atleast its either great or rolled and destroyed (and you'd know that when you shaved someone else).
Do you guys suppose a barber could just feel the pulling while shaving or actually relied on a sharpness (thumb) test and then shaved?
A hairdresser who used to shave before WW 2 told me long ago his customers would just tell him when they considered his razor dull. So, that's the customer test!
We take customer input very seriously at Mario's barber shop. If you feel that the blade is getting dull, dilate your pupils and scream like a girl :eek:
This is at least the second time I've seen you use the term 'draw'. However, I'm still not sure what exactly you mean by this term. Could you define/explain it further?Quote:
Originally Posted by AFDavis11
Thanks
Redwoood
A feeling of the strop surface and the blade sticking together, like a vaccum seal.
Well,I am familiar with this definition of the term, but I don't understand how it is something you can see from a video... so I'm not sure if that's what he meansQuote:
Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT
:shrug:
Redwoood
Thats what I mean. Note how the tempo slows and the hand begins leading the razor (as it appears to stick). Since I've stropped like this I know the exact spot that draw should occur. It could also just be my imagination. If I didn't have experience with this though, I wouldn't have noticed.
I'm going to display my ignorance here. Is getting to the point where you develop a draw a good thing? What is happening at that point, from a physical point of view, to the razor edge?
As the bevel surface gets polished and is becoming smoother, it will be more likely to form a vaccum seal with a smooth surface and stick. A polished bevel is your friend :D
Looking at those videos helps explain all those nicks and marks on an old strop I have. For some reason the person that used it liked the back side of the leather ( compression lines ) so the the front side was like new when I got it.
Glen
Ah. Makes sense. Is it speed - dependent (might take me several decades to get to the manic fury that is Mr Ham's right hand :bow )Quote:
Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT
Speed comes with experience and it comes naturally. If you consciously speed up the process, you risk overhoning and/or messing up the edge and/or messing up the strop, in which case speed becomes your enemy. Once you hone the edge properly, it doesn't take too many swipes on the strop to get your blade sharp, so going faster doesn't give you any tangible benefits.
Watching that video i could see myself in a blue coat and saying ' thats another one buggered'Quote:
Originally Posted by AFDavis11
Ok my thought was this guy must be the Obi-Wan of stropping to hit at it like that and judging by the age of him at it a while.
there is a possibility when he slows down he is checking for damage...lol.
I bought a barbers lot and found all mannner of shapes of blades so I guess not all barbers are that particular.....
Im sure Ive read somewhere that our need for the perfect edge is a more recent thing and that old barbers acheived something different and maybe didnt have the tools we have today.
AF your a brave lad...lol wouldnt catch me attempting that, but its niceto know someones tried it.
regards,simon:tu