Thread: Strop or Hone?

Do I need to post a vid of my stropping action to see of I'm ding it right?!

I think I'm doing ok, and have an old vintage strop that I got for £18 off eBay. But I'm no expert in whether its suitable. There aren't any tears in the middle but it does have some nics on the edge near to where the return x finishes. I've been avoiding going as far down as there when stropping is it worth it?

Vintage strops are a bit of a lottery in my experience. Unless it's obviously shot, I find it difficult to judge from photo's. The nicks you describe don't sound as though they'd be a problem, look out for cupping and the quality of the leather in general. Definitely get your razors honed by someone who knows what they're doing, both Steve at the Invisible Edge and Neil Miller certainly know there way to a fine edge.

There are some very useful instructions on how to both strop and hone provided in some older barber manuals found in the archives here at SRP and elsewhere on the web. If you take the time to read the instructions carefully and practice, you will develop the skills to become proficient on your own. That is how I did it, and that is how the "professionals" did it. Challenging learning curve, yes. Trial and error for sure. Frustration guaranteed. But there is no other way to learn. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll arrive.

Originally Posted by Duckcm18

Do I need to post a vid of my stropping action to see of I'm ding it right?!

I think I'm doing ok, and have an old vintage strop that I got for £18 off eBay. But I'm no expert in whether its suitable. There aren't any tears in the middle but it does have some nics on the edge near to where the return x finishes. I've been avoiding going as far down as there when stropping is it worth it?

These stropping videos have helped me, recorded by members of this forum:

straight razor stropping - YouTube