Stropping problem - getting the razor to "sit down" evenly.

So I've been having some problems with stropping. The razor doesn't want to stay seated flat when moving across the strop (3" English leather IV). It seems to be because of 2 problems - 1) the strop seems to be rather stiff (never oiled, just rub my hands over it each time before stropping), so when pulled taught (well, semi taught) it doesn't create a fully flat surface and so the blade doesn't touch in certain spots. 2) There are "ripples/creases" in the strop - maybe 6-10 lines that show different wear and I can feel that they're slightly razed when I rub my hand on the strop.

Was considering two possible solutions - 1) going with a paddle strop, 2) trying something like a roo skin strop that I hear if "softer" than the leather and so might give a more even surface.

Have you tried using it on a bench flat? Or broken it in with some lather and a bottle to help break it's back, this may help the creases, I have also then rubbed Nivea vitamin E cream into it and rubbing again with the bottle when dried again helped a lot with my English bridle.

My roo travel strop I made is very flexible, but mainly because it is only 0.8mm ( 1/32" ) thick does work nice also but.

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Originally Posted by Substance

Have you tried using it on a bench flat? Or broken it in with some lather and a bottle to help break it's back, this may help the creases, I have also then rubbed Nivea vitamin E cream into it and rubbing again with the bottle when dried again helped a lot with my English bridle.

My roo travel strop I made is very flexible, but mainly because it is only 0.8mm ( 1/32" ) thick does work nice also but.

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Are you talking about applying lather to the back side of the strop?

Sir, I think you do it to the front or smooth side. At least that's how I do mine

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Originally Posted by nodakjohns

Sir, I think you do it to the front or smooth side. At least that's how I do mine

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Are you all talking about using actual shaving lather then running a bottle over it? I'm still unclear what @substance was actually describing doing.

You shouldn't need or necessarily do anything other than rubbing the strop with the palm of your hand. The oils from your hand will work the strop in nicely, as will time.

Stopping is a fundamental to this hobby, and learning to do it properly is key. As has been suggested, this will also help work the strop in, take a butter knife and keep the spine of the knife always on the strop, flipping the knife at the end of each stroke / lap without lifting the spine from the strop.

Practice this frequently, speed kills, it's not a race, and remember to palm rub the strop until the surface of the strop get warm...I do this a couple of times a week at least, and when stropping your razor, focus on the blade, go slow, don't use a lot of pressure, and keep the spine on the strop...do this, and with time, you'll be proficient in one of the main fundamentals.

This is a time based experience task, there is no, what's the saying, "put nine women in a room and get a baby in a month", to this...takes time, patience and practice....enjoy it!


edited to add: I have a heavy Illinois 827 strop and the SRD 3" Roo strop, many feel the Roo strop is to thin, and have complaints about it. Many feel the 827 peels or sheds to much, or doesn't give enough feedback. These are common complaints that it's always the tool, never the user...your leather belt would suffice as a strop if needed. Some put lather on the strop, I don't and never have. The strop will work itself in, wrinkles, warps and such will go away with use, and as suggested, if any waves or wrinkles bother you, usually a bottle will go a long way to start removing them...

@phrank - I've had this strop for months now, and rub my hand across it before use daily. When I pull it taught, the main issue is that it doesn't create a flat surface. There's always areas that are slightly lower/higher than others, so parts of the blade don't touch as I'm drawing it across.

Major,

If you mean a 3" English Bridle IV instead of 3" English Leather IV, that is a good strop. As Phrank advises, with daily hand rubdowns and stropping, your strop will come around. Give it time. Unless the strop is defective, then that is another issue. Please get in touch with the vendor and explain your problem.

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Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

@phrank - I've had this strop for months now, and rub my hand across it before use daily. When I pull it taught, the main issue is that it doesn't create a flat surface. There's always areas that are slightly lower/higher than others, so parts of the blade don't touch as I'm drawing it across.

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Interesting...I never actually pull my strop, "tight", I always leave enough slack that there is some cup to it, IIRC, this is the proper manner, if there is such a thing LOL, I find with the slight cup to it, it provides a better contact between the blade and the strop. Most of the vids I've seen with barbers stropping, they never have the strop pulled tightly, you'll always see a good amount of slack / cupping...

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Originally Posted by Obie

Major,

If you mean a 3" English Bridle IV instead of 3" English Leather IV, that is a good strop. As Phrank advises, with daily hand rubdowns and stropping, your strop will come around. Give it time. Unless the strop is defective, then that is another issue. Please get in touch with the vendor and explain your problem.

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You're right - English Bridle. I read reviews before buying and sounded like a good strop, but after 2 months or so of near daily use (including hand rubbing) it just doesn't seem to have broken in. When I draw the blade, because of the way the strop flexes, it's very difficult to keep contact across the entire blade for the entire pass. Various parts of the blade are constantly losing contact.