How much damage can a nO0b do when stropping?

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05-23-2013, 02:34 PM
MikekiM

How much damage can a nO0b do when stropping?

Like so many other new straight shavers, learning proper stropping is a challenge. I've watched the Stroptober vids, and a gojillion other YouTube vids and I THINK I have a decent technique.

I now have a few good razors and a few REALLY goods one are in the works so I don't want to have mediocre technique if it means I will damage a fine razor. It's one thing to not improve an edge and something totally different to destroy a good one.

So, if I am keeping the spine/blade flat, leading and rolling with/on the spine, not using more pressure than it takes to keeps the blade flat, moving slow and covering the entire blade (3" SRP Latigo) how vulnerable am I do damaging a keen edge?
05-23-2013, 02:52 PM
Badgister

I would say your edge will be fine provided you do enough laps to truly treat the edge sufficiently, your strop is taught, no pressure other than the weight of the razor and that you never turn the razor on its edge.
05-23-2013, 02:58 PM
gssixgun

Although I have been proved wrong by a few Newbs and razors :rofl2: I generally like to say "Any damage you do using a strop incorrectly, can be fixed with a strop used correctly" try not to prove me wrong :p
05-23-2013, 03:25 PM
MikekiM

Thanks guys...

I think I am okay with what I am doing. Short of throwing it against the wall or hitting bone in a finger, arm or leg.. I should be okay!!

As far as 'enough' laps.. typically 20 on the linen and a few sets of 20 on the leather. I figure if I lose count after the second set of 20, I am probably doing enough.
05-23-2013, 03:38 PM
anthogia

These two gents have given you great advice, in my own personal opinion how much damage can you do a lot! You can ask Glenn because he's corrected my razors, but I probably rolled 2 to 3 razor's because of stropping incorrectly and I also ruined about four good strops. IMHO, and for what it's worth, take my advice, get a butter knife and practice practice practice!
05-23-2013, 04:28 PM
bill3152

I rolled my first 2 straights. I bought a paddle strop and that's how it was for a good month til I attempted to use a hanger again. I love my hanger now, but it wasn't always so. If you don't want to get a paddle, lay your hanger on a flat surface till you get the flip down. A hanger does a better job IMO once you know how to use it.
05-23-2013, 04:47 PM
MikekiM

Okay.... rolling the edge is the concern?

I would imagine that happens if you use too little tension on the strop or too much pressure on the blade, yes?
05-23-2013, 04:52 PM
anthogia

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Okay.... rolling the edge is the concern?

I would imagine that happens if you use too little tension on the strop or too much pressure on the blade, yes?

I would say yes, but there are other variables as we'll, such as flipping the blade, etc.
05-23-2013, 04:55 PM
MikekiM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthogia

I would say yes, but there are other variables as we'll, such as flipping the blade, etc.

Gotcha.. that I know I am not doing.

Where are you on Long Island?? If you have a good stropping technique I would love to see it in action...
05-23-2013, 05:01 PM
anthogia

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Gotcha.. that I know I am not doing.

Where are you on Long Island?? If you have a good stropping technique I would love to see it in action...

My stropping technique isn't the best- I'm a relative newb myself and certainly not a good teacher as of yet, but I'm learning! I also use a paddle strop- just easier for me since I don't have the greatest technique yet. I'm in malverne, next to valley stream- you?
05-23-2013, 05:02 PM
anthogia

There is a meeting of the minds in fort lee on the ninth- you'll learn alot from alot of ppl, you should definitely consider coming!
05-23-2013, 05:26 PM
MikekiM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthogia

My stropping technique isn't the best- I'm a relative newb myself and certainly not a good teacher as of yet, but I'm learning! I also use a paddle strop- just easier for me since I don't have the greatest technique yet. I'm in malverne, next to valley stream- you?

Born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens Village, then Oceanside and now Copiague Harbor

I know Malverne well.. Had a girlfriend who lived right by the train station and an old friend owns the Allstate agency in town..
05-23-2013, 06:31 PM
anthogia

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens Village, then Oceanside and now Copiague Harbor

I know Malverne well.. Had a girlfriend who lived right by the train station and an old friend owns the Allstate agency in town..

Very cool. I originally come from Astoria. You should try and make the meet. If you need a lift just pm me.
05-23-2013, 06:51 PM
MikekiM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthogia

Very cool. I originally come from Astoria. You should try and make the meet. If you need a lift just pm me.

I had it on my calendar and then... SWMBO advised me my daughter has a piano recital.. unless the planets align, I doubt I will get there..
05-23-2013, 06:51 PM
Krusty01

How much damage can a nO0b do when stropping?

Also relatively new to the straight razor game, when learning I found that when I stropped incorrectly and rolled the edge to one side you could here a very different sound from the strop. One side of the blade would sound scratchy and the other smooth. Now that I am improving I find that the sound is the same on both sides of the blade when I strop and it is music to the ears.
05-23-2013, 07:00 PM
anthogia

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikekiM

I had it on my calendar and then... SWMBO advised me my daughter has a piano recital.. unless the planets align, I doubt I will get there..

there's always next time...
05-23-2013, 07:19 PM
Airportcopper

I rolled my first shave ready razor.. Had a cheap strop to start off with.. Now I have a paddle strop and I just go slow and take my time and pay attention it takes pratice but over time u get the hang of it.. Just go slow..
05-23-2013, 09:20 PM
MikekiM

I seem to recall a discussion about rolling the edge.. The suggestion was made to VERY LIGHTLY explore the edge from spine towards to the bevel, using the tip of a straight pin. Is it that slight that you can't feel it with a finger nail or finger or see it with a loupe?
05-23-2013, 10:43 PM
eod7

You can also have a wife who runs the AC nonstop so it's cold and dry inside. I never have rust problems. Cost me about 200 a month though.
05-24-2013, 12:40 AM
Badgister

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthogia

Very cool. I originally come from Astoria. You should try and make the meet. If you need a lift just pm me.

I am often in Astoria! I love the place.
05-24-2013, 12:49 AM
anthogia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badgister

I am often in Astoria! I love the place.

I'm there all the time! my father and others in my family still live there. Will be there tomorrow! Where do you live that you're there often?
06-16-2013, 10:40 AM
peko

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikekiM

I seem to recall a discussion about rolling the edge.. The suggestion was made to VERY LIGHTLY explore the edge from spine towards to the bevel, using the tip of a straight pin. Is it that slight that you can't feel it with a finger nail or finger or see it with a loupe?

What kind of loupe do you use?
Mine is actually a small microscope (or so it says on the side) magnifies up to x45 and has a little LED for light. I've found that if I can't see anything wrong at that magnification
a good stropping will usually sort it out.

I see a lot of people talking about going slow when they strop. In my experience if you go TOO slow that's not good either. For me at least some of my muscles would tense up (this doesn't sound completely right, feels like I'm looking for another word) because they were kept almost stationary and because others were used in ways they weren't used to. Either way, both of those would cause a very small and almost unnoticeable trembling, making it all that harder to strop. I then tried going a little faster and things actually got a lot better.
I'm not saying you should just go as fast as you can and hope for the best but it shouldn't take 5 minutes to strop before shaving either.
Something that's helped me with my stropping was to get some CrOx somewhere, put it on the back of an old belt and start stropping your kitchen knives. It's not exactly the same but it helped me develop a better feel for what I was doing and in the end both my razors and my kitchen knives are better for it.

Phew! That went on longer than I had anticipated.
06-17-2013, 10:13 AM
WW243

Fear is the enemy of good stropping.
06-24-2013, 12:49 AM
RMarsh

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthogia

I'm there all the time! my father and others in my family still live there. Will be there tomorrow! Where do you live that you're there often?

Thread Hijack, but my Girlfriend lives in Astoria a couple blocks off Ditmars blvd, I'll be there for the 4th weekend!
06-24-2013, 01:06 AM
Silents

And another thread hijack, I'm in Brooklyn, but like the Greek girls of Astoria. Oh yeah and I'm decent with a strop, haven't nicked it in almost a year.
06-24-2013, 02:19 AM
unit

Not the answer you were looking for perhaps, but a valid answer (and a funny/sad story).

A certain person who will remain unnamed (but he is typing this) took delivery of a beautiful semi-custom 7/8 square as a noob and in his attempts to strop faster (like the cool kids do), fumbled and dropped the razor. It cut a hole in the shower mat and ruined the spike.

The good news is I danced and kept my feet out of harms way. The better news is, I was able to repair the tip and re-hone the razor.

So how much damage can a noob do with a strop? It depends on how well you listen to the advice that slow is smooth and smooth is fast (or however Glen said it;)).