Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16
Like Tree5Likes

Thread: Absolute beginner stropping question

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    london
    Posts
    76
    Thanked: 1

    Default Absolute beginner stropping question

    So my Norton 1k and 4/8k have finally arrived
    The bevel is set and the razor honed.

    Here's my question :
    When stropping should the razor be flat on the leather just like it is when honing
    or should I lift the back of the razor slightly ? By doing the latter I get nicer sound
    off the leather that makes me think the strop is doing more. I'm probably entirely
    wrong right ?

    Thank for any advice

  2. #2
    Senior Member tiddle's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Oxford, Al
    Posts
    1,605
    Thanked: 407

    Default

    No, the spine stays flat at all times during the stroke, lifting can round the edge, or worse dig into your strop and slice or scuff it. Also, the spine leads the stroke (opposite of honing). Don't worry about getting a very noticeable acoustic type feedback; some razors do, and some won't make a peep. Just keep the strop taught, spine flat, and constant contact with a smooth even stroke, and let the strop do its work.
    Mastering implies there is nothing more for you to learn of something... I prefer proficient enough to not totally screw it up.

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to tiddle For This Useful Post:

    CaliforniaCajun (03-09-2013), medicineball (03-08-2013)

  4. #3
    Senior Member stonebraker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    128
    Thanked: 18

    Default

    +1 see the Library on this forum. Under maintenance you will see stropping under maintenance. This will give you a better idea with visuals of what the above is mentioning. You can also youtube some of these big names on the forum. They have posts showing you the ins and outs of stropping. Remember it takes time do develop a skill like stropping.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to stonebraker For This Useful Post:

    medicineball (03-08-2013)

  6. #4
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    27,179
    Thanked: 13250
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Remember the JaNorton thread we linked you


    That was January, and Honing this was October and Stropping or rather Stroptober


    http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html



    There is a ton of info and Vids in that thread
    griff199 likes this.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    medicineball (03-08-2013)

  8. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    london
    Posts
    76
    Thanked: 1

    Default

    Great into
    Much obliged!

  9. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    83
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gssixgun View Post
    Remember the JaNorton thread we linked you


    That was January, and Honing this was October and Stropping or rather Stroptober


    http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html



    There is a ton of info and Vids in that thread
    +1 on Stroptober thread. Watch the videos at a minimum. Seeing so many different angles, members of various experience levels, and the comments. Fixed my stropping just going through that thread. Great info!
    Sterm likes this.

  10. #7
    (John Ayers in SRP Facebook Group) CaliforniaCajun's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Lafayette, LA
    Posts
    1,542
    Thanked: 270

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tiddle View Post
    No, the spine stays flat at all times during the stroke, lifting can round the edge, or worse dig into your strop and slice or scuff it. Also, the spine leads the stroke (opposite of honing). Don't worry about getting a very noticeable acoustic type feedback; some razors do, and some won't make a peep. Just keep the strop taught, spine flat, and constant contact with a smooth even stroke, and let the strop do its work.
    Your post is causing me to re-think stropping. I've gone about three whole weeks without nicking the thing which for me is an unbelievable accomplishment.

    I have been concerned about the sound, thinking it should sound the same both ways. I'm wondering if I'm lifting the spine. It's hard for me to get the same sound going toward me as I do going away from me.
    Krusty01 likes this.

    Straight razor shaver and loving it!
    40-year survivor of electric and multiblade razors

  11. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    83
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun View Post
    It's hard for me to get the same sound going toward me as I do going away from me.
    Let me preface this with something you don't often hear on the internet: I'm not an expert in anything I'm about to talk about.

    Having said that, it makes sense to me that leather - being a tanned hide - is going to have a "grain" to it, just like our faces do. I have a SRD red latigo and the sound is definitely different on the toward vs away stroke. Now, I've only been stropping correctly (I think) now for about 3 days, so it's certainly not a "broken in" strop (unless you call being sliced 30 times "broken in" )

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to griff199 For This Useful Post:

    CaliforniaCajun (03-10-2013)

  13. #9
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    27,179
    Thanked: 13250
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by griff199 View Post
    Having said that, it makes sense to me that leather - being a tanned hide - is going to have a "grain" to it, just like our faces do. and the sound is definitely different on the toward vs away stroke.

    Yep what he said,,

    And let's toss in the Dopler Effect for good measure too

    "That is my story and I'm sticking to it"



    Collin Raye - That's My Story - YouTube

  • The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    CaliforniaCajun (03-10-2013)

  • #10
    Senior Member IamSt8ght's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    664
    Thanked: 109

    Default

    Yes, keep the spine on the strop, and drag the edge/bevel on the leather, is the best way I can describe it with words. So, any torque generated during your stoke (you always generate some amount of torque, though minimal) should be directed to the edge. You will possibly see or notice this in the Stroptober vids, but you'll only learn it with daily stropping.

    +1 on what Jetmech said about rubbing your palm on the strop.

    Once you get it, it's amazing what good stropping does to an edge. Good luck.
    Last edited by IamSt8ght; 05-04-2013 at 12:30 PM.

  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •