Thread: 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?

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.

Although I have been proved wrong by a few Newbs and razors 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

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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...

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?