Thread: Is this google video a sane way to paddle strop?

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!