Thread: Stropping is King

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Nothing wrong with that as long as the floors are clean and you're not wearing sandals over them My speed improved immensely since I got into this but it's still not as fast as this. I also noticed you're angling the blade and changing the angle throughout the strokes. Just wondering about the benefits of that?

This is probably, in part, due to the angle of the camera. As I'm stropping, I'm using a kind of variation of the famous "X" pattern. That's probaly what you are seeing. It's also true that while I'm stropping, I'm constantly monitoring the feel of the razor and adjusting accordingly. Think of driving down the road and making adjustments with the steering wheel. Not exactly the same thing, but close.

This is why I claim that stropping is King. It is very simple in it's basics, but very sophisticated in it's application. It is also the final prep that is so very vital in achieving that perfect shave ready edge.

Also, don't focus too much on the speed part. You'll notice I start out by going very slow to show the correct movements for stropping. I could have left it there, but decided to speed it up for a few reasons:

1) That is how fast I normally strop.
2) I wanted to demonstrate to those new at this just what can be accomplished with time and practice
3) I wanted to establish some credibility regarding my skill, and, legitimate authority to teach stropping. I don't think just anybody could wake up one morning and just decide to be a stropping expert, and strop like I do, without cutting themselves up into little pieces.

(Also, you may have noticed that I have a store on ebay where I sell razors, strops and things. I think it is best, usually, if a retailer knows, and can use, the products they sell. I wanted to convey to my customers that I certainly know my products. There are a few, sellers?? on ebay that certainly do not, but that is a subject best reserved for another thread, I think. )

I think there are some benefits to stropping with speed, but for the newby, slow is the best policy in the beggining.

Scott