Thread: Stropping Strategies

Originally Posted by ace

I've recently given up on linen, in my case the rough seatbelt-like material. It seemed to me that it was rough on edges, and I wasn't really sure of its benefits anyway. I think it sent two of my blades back to the hones.

I use a paddle strop and find that I can sense "bite" on it too. As I start stropping, the friction warms the English Bridle pad, the warmth increases the draw noticeably and the "bite" is when you can literally feel the leather working on the edge. Of course, on a paddle, with no deflection, I can use some pressure.

I too have a quality strop with seatbelt-like linen, maybe even rougher. I cringe any time I put a hollow grind on it. It makes me wonder how all these people who make such great strops can think so little of the linen component to throw any old canvas potato sack material on there. I dream of a quality strop with excellent linen AND a nice drawing leather.

Originally Posted by woodsmandave

I just read 20 pages or so of that thread, and have a newfound respect for the moderators here who keep threads on-topic. And it appears that I've been stropping inadequately this past year

Oh ok and what did you discover on that thread??

I discovered that there is a place for pressure on a strop, when regular stropping just won't cut it--that pressure should only be used when the strop is held tight, and there is no deflection. And its important not to use TOO much pressure. This is different from what I have been doing--ZERO pressure, other than the weight of the blade. Also, that pressured strokes should be followed up with lighter strokes. Also, that a strop is capable of bringing a blade back to life if used properly. What I learned that was most important, is that I need to think more about my stropping.

There's deflection and there's deflection. I like to use pressure when I strop and until I videoed my stropping I did not realise there is quite a bit of deflection going on when I do. The trick is to apply most pressure at the spine I think, and allow the edge to follow up with controlled pressure. Take a look at some of the stropping videos out there - one in particular of an old barber at some hotel or other - and you will see that some people have a very sloppy strop.

There are no hard and fast rules IMO. The only general rules I stick to are edge trailing and never lift the spine. Other than that I think it is open slather, and whatever works for you is the best guide.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

There's deflection and there's deflection. I like to use pressure when I strop and until I videoed my stropping I did not realise there is quite a bit of deflection going on when I do. The trick is to apply most pressure at the spine I think, and allow the edge to follow up with controlled pressure. Take a look at some of the stropping videos out there - one in particular of an old barber at some hotel or other - and you will see that some people have a very sloppy strop.

There are no hard and fast rules IMO. The only general rules I stick to are edge trailing and never lift the spine. Other than that I think it is open slather, and whatever works for you is the best guide.

James.

I totally agree you really need to figure it out for yourself to whatever works for you, and i did see that video you talk about,
his strop is so loose that it almost rolls with the razor but abviously works for him. Enjoy!!

I saw that video with the barber's floppy strop, which flies in the face of what nearly every long time straight razor user on this forum suggests. I don't know what to do with that video, except pretend I didn't see it.

His is an exaggerated example, for sure, but I don't think that technically he is flying in the face of accepted practice per se. I think if we were able to analyse what is going on with his stropping I would wager reasonable money that his edge is hitting the strop quite nicely, and the slackness is an advanced technique that he has obviously mastered through time. Yes, we encourage a much tauter strop, but that is to help beginners avoid rounding the edge. As you progress with your stropping, whether you notice or not, you will unconsciously adjust the tautness of the strop to achieve the feel you need - I know I do.

James.

That guy who claims he can go a year without honing his razor says he holds his strop pretty tight

all kidding aside, I'm sure you're right. for me, right now, I'm going to try the tight strop method and play with pressure. Maybe I'll get crazy and let my strop go all loosy-goosey later one

I keep imagining that a taut strop with pressure and a looser strop with no pressure could produce a pretty similar effect.

No matter how I strop, unless I let the strop sag, the results are good.

I can also tell you that lots of guys that think there strop is a straight as a 2x4, have really deep deletion going on. Its really hard to see from above.

I think that one thing people seem to forget is WHERE the pressure is applied.

let's refer to the wiki for a very good visual representation: