Thread: Right /Wrong way of stroping

I've only recently just begun to strop, but I have been lurking and reading a lot on it. My advice, type Stroptober into the search bar and you can find a ton of info. As far as if you're doing it right... like I said, I'm new to it, but if it is working and your rolling over the spine and not flipping over the blade, you should be pretty close to right.

gssixgun says it perfectly. First you have to do no harm then improve the edge. I started on a paddle as the first 2 I rolled on a hanger. Took me about a month to get the flip down well. Then I went to the hanger. I just the last month or so strop with some slack and it really improves the edge and keeps it going. I go over a month now between touchups whereas when I first started I used to crox every 5 shaves. You will get there. If you strop now with some slack, you may roll the edge. I listen to the sound and when you hear that slight zip, you know its perfect. Webbing after the hone is helpful also. Some people do it before every stropping YMMV.

I am no rocket gynocologist, but if your razor is sharp..... Then you are doing it right.

Originally Posted by bill3152

I listen to the sound and when you hear that slight zip, you know its perfect.

I concur the differences in sounds will tell you instantly if the stroke is "Off"

Combined with the simplicity of the statement below and you have it

Originally Posted by Wintchase

if your razor is sharp..... Then you are doing it right.

Thanks for the above advice guys seems I am doing it right then Just one more thing I wish to ask. I have just been watching the above video and I see that the guy starts his strop from the top of the leather with the spine towards you coming down and going up with the the spine going away from you is this right way / I know I have tried it this way and i get a complete different sound from the way I do it But I find it a bit awkward. the way I have been stropping is start from the bottom of the leather with the spine away from me is this still correct or does it not matter which way you do it

Originally Posted by ECD

Can someone tell me please how do you know if you are not stropping the right way I think I am doing it the right way holding the strop taunt and afterwards the blade seems sharp Am i doing it right? i here on here that you can damage the blade if you do it wrong Sorry about the silly Q but i Want to make sure I am doing it the right way

Holding the strop taut is the right way of doing it. Stropping technique itself, there are several schools of thought. I was taught to keep the wrist straight and have suggested that others do the same, but it was hard to do and I went through about three pieces of leather during the learning curve. Right now I pretty much keep the wrist straight, but am less strict with myself on it if on some days I have a tendency to bend it. I have also forced myself to slow down in order to protect the leather.

I use a 3" strop so I don't have to learn the X pattern. The width of the razor is about 3 inches. If you have a narrower strop, you have to use an X, diagonal, or windshield wiper motion to get the entire blade stropped.

Originally Posted by ECD

Thanks for the above advice guys seems I am doing it right then Just one more thing I wish to ask. I have just been watching the above video and I see that the guy starts his strop from the top of the leather with the spine towards you coming down and going up with the the spine going away from you is this right way / I know I have tried it this way and i get a complete different sound from the way I do it But I find it a bit awkward. the way I have been stropping is start from the bottom of the leather with the spine away from me is this still correct or does it not matter which way you do it

Whether you start at the bottom or the top of the strop, the basic action is equivalent.