Thread: Razor sound on the strop, bevel not set

IME with the wedge I have I had to use 4 layers of tape and from the advice of another member I use a bit of slack in my strop when using that razor. Works very well only with that blade though. Torque is correct as sharptonn stated, just the slightest bit.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

IME with the wedge I have I had to use 4 layers of tape and from the advice of another member I use a bit of slack in my strop when using that razor. Works very well only with that blade though. Torque is correct as sharptonn stated, just the slightest bit.

Exactly! If you are not stropping the edge, You Ain't Stropping!

That one may need a tad of torque when stropping on the paddle!

Wedges and heavy grinds are quiet on the strop, just as on your face!

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

IME with the wedge I have I had to use 4 layers of tape and from the advice of another member I use a bit of slack in my strop when using that razor. Works very well only with that blade though. Torque is correct as sharptonn stated, just the slightest bit.

4 layers of electrical tape? Is that on there when you hone or are you using tape on the spine when you strop?

Originally Posted by Blamo

4 layers of electrical tape? Is that on there when you hone or are you using tape on the spine when you strop?

Just when I set the bevel and honed it. When stropping there is no tape so that why I put a slight bit of slack in my strop. Not a lot but just enough

I have found the process of becoming proficient with a strop to have taken many months to learn and a few casualties in my learning stages. I have been taught here to only allow the weight of the razor bear on the leather with only the slightest of torque on the edge. I have been using a strop for almost 7 years and I'm still learning. Maybe I'm slower than most, but this skill is essential to the goal of a bbs shave.
My point is the time and experience required is not obtained overnight by watching videos on u-tube. While helpful, only by failing do we learn. So make haste slowly. Ignore videos of high speed back and forth razor movement by others. Reasonable speed will come in time. Practice being as good as you can with each movement of the razor on the strop. Have fun with this hobby.

Thinner blade means more vibration. More vibration, louder sound. Thicker blade, metal less prone to vibrate, quieter on the strop.

You shouldn't need more pressure or torque, the part of the razor doing the actual cutting is just as thin and fine as any other razor in your stable. The purpose of stropping is to re-align that fragile edge, not to make noise. Use the same pressure as you would with anything else.

depends on the strop, my Kanayama doesn't make any zip no matter the blade,, stropping aint about sound its about near perfect technique. stropping is much more Important than some say, id rather get my razor honed well and then strop well, cause it sees the strop everyday and doesn't need a hone for many moons,, so sound ehhh. just concentrate on keeping the pressure right and in contact with the leather. stropping takes some time before you start improving edges Tc

Over the past few months I've started stropping with zero pressure or intentionally no weight , literally just laying down the blade on the strop and the results are excellent.

Try it , go on

Thanks fellas. I actually tried it last night on that particular razor. I counted out 30 strops on the linen side and just did 50 straight strops on the leather, ignoring everything sound related. Really noticable reallignment of the blade and got a wonderful shave from that razor.