Thread: Having trouble on the flip

Originally Posted by Siguy

Watching the videos for me was instructive:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ght=Stroptober

I was going to suggest this thread. I spent literally HOURS watching people do this on this thread. There are a couple examples of how to ruin a strop but most are extremely helpful! That said practice and repetition are your best friends!

One word of warning, if you do drop the razor GET THE HELL AWAY FROM IT!!! Do not under any circumstances try to catch it. Sending it out for a re-hone is a whole lot cheaper than the bill you'll get at the ER for the stitches you're going to need. There's a thread on here somewhere about the cut of the day. I remember several pictures in it of people who tried to catch the razor instinctively. Didn't end well. Good luck! I'd offer to meet up and help but I've only been at this since Christmas so there isn't anything I could show you lol. Maybe there are some guys in the Memphis area?

That's good advice. Also, watch your thumb with the heel of the blade. Until muscle memory builds, when your hand fatigues, STOP.

Have you considered a flat or board strop?

One thing that may help to somewhat build the muscle memory is to take a pen or pencil and roll it back and forth while pinched between the pad of your thumb and right at the first joint of your index finger (and possibly your middle finger, too... whichever is most comfortable for you).

I have found that using a pen with a clip on the cap is the most helpful, as you can imagine the clip as your razor's edge. Going slow and focusing on which way the clip is facing while "stropping", you can develop the muscle memory and timing of the flip. Another benefit of using a pen with a clip on the cap is you can do it anywhere... just use your forearm or thigh as your "strop".

"Strop" while riding on the city bus, "strop" while in the can or "strop" while watching t.v. in the evening. "Strop" while in your doctor's waiting room (and don't worry, if you like your "strop", you can keep your "strop") or "strop" while sitting at your desk at work.

Once you think you have the hang of it, try stropping (with a butter knife or keep using the pen) with your real strop. You might be amazed at how fast your muscle memory takes over.

Go slow. There is no benefit in going fast in the beginning.

Not sure about stropping on your thigh in public.(;-)

This may not make sense but it helped me.
Try positioning your fingers so you can't flip the wrong way.
I used this grasp as I practiced and it made a world of difference for me ..... Take the razor, pen, butter knife, etc and hold it with your fingers on top, thumb on the bottom, wrist straight, cutting edge toward you and start your first move away from you... If you are holding it this way, you can't flip the wrong way. When you get to the top of the strop just roll your fingers.

Again, this may not make sense to anyone but its how I stopped dulling my razor.

Since it feels unnatural to flip the razor on it's spine my guess is that your grip is wrong. It's a little tricky to describe in text how I hold my razor but you have gotten good explanations from other members already so I'll spare you my confusing explanation.

Originally Posted by Steel

Go slow. There is no benefit in going fast in the beginning.

Nah.. To easy a joke

Use a table knife to practice, go slow and watch what you are doing giving your muscles and mind the time to remember the movements.

Slow = smooth and perfect, speed is not necessary but will come in time. If you try stropping fast your mind and body will remember the mistakes, going slow allows you to focus on perfection of movement.

Ditto nun2sharp.

Also allows you to keep and eye on exactly what you're doing with the edge while in motion stropping and on the flip.

That's a big part of the reason I like stropping on a flat surface.