Thread: Stropping technique question

Still new and I'm sure I've dulled my blade a bit. I've watched various clips too. When I'm stropping I know that the spine and edge are both suppose to lay on the strop. When I do it that way it doesn't really make that whisping sound. If I put it a touch more down with the edge it does. So I'm not sure on which one of those ways I'm to do it. Thanks in advance

The first thing you need to do is discount the sound that your strop makes. It should always make the same sound, with the same razor, at the same speed, on the same strop, in the same room... You see where I'm going here.

Your spine and edge should be flat on the strop and you should be making an X pattern or a windshield wiper pattern or the race track pattern. But it should always be flat, spine leading. There is a couple of good videos in the wiki in really slow motion.
Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Library

Adding to what Shaun said, do NOT put pressure down on the edge. Both surfaces have to stay flat on the strop -- spine and edge.

The most important technique to learn is to flip your razor between your index finger and thumb while keeping your wrist steady. I know that some people flick their wrists while keeping the razor itself stationary, but in my experience that technique is far more error prone.

Hello!

One of the tricks of stropping that took me ages to figure out was that even when the edge and spine are both lying flat on the strop, you can bias the weight toward the edge (slightly) with where you place your thumb on the shank.

Consider the "away" stroke on the strop - the edge is facing you, the spine is facing the end of the strop. In this position my thumb is sitting on the corner of the shank closest to me, not right on top of it. The weight distribution is therefore a bit more over the edge than the spine. Keep your thumb in that position as you then move the razor down the strop.

Now when you flip to come back the other way, try to keep your thumb at about that same spot - again, so that you bias the weight slightly toward the edge side and not the spine side. Move the razor back toward you down the spine in that position.

It's not a heavy weight. Really, it's just your thumb adding a slight bit of extra weight toward the edge side of the shank - don't deliberately push down.

See if that helps you - it might feel a bit uncomfortable to start with, but if you keep at it it will feel natural enough with time. It works for me in any event.

Good luck!

James.

it helps me to think of it as putting pressure on the spine (just enough to keep it on the strop) and let the edge drag lightly behind. also, the grind of the razor will make a difference in the sound it makes. a wedge or quarter hollow will be quieter or silent and a full hollow grind will make a louder wispy sound.

Wow, thanks for all the advise, it will all be useful. I know it's going to take some time but it also helps by getting some advise.

Originally Posted by Humpglide

Still new and I'm sure I've dulled my blade a bit. I've watched various clips too. When I'm stropping I know that the spine and edge are both suppose to lay on the strop. When I do it that way it doesn't really make that whisping sound. If I put it a touch more down with the edge it does. So I'm not sure on which one of those ways I'm to do it. Thanks in advance

If you are going to watch videos, this one is a fine demonstration of proper stropping technique:

Made me want to foxtrot while stropping!

Try using a SRD modular strop. It makes it much easier and efficient and you don't have to worry about rounding the edge because of slack in the the strop.