Thread: Stropping stance

I tried something different tonite while stropping .I use to pull the strop to the middle of my stomach and strop in a north and south direction.So tonite i pulled the strop off to my side as if i was standing in the center of the strop and stropping east and west, it seemed to be easier and i could get some speed generated on my way to 100 laps.What do you folks do? or was i stropping incorrect for the last year,or what ever blows your dress up!

Originally Posted by nessmuck

tonite i pulled the strop off to my side as if i was standing in the center of the strop and stropping east and west

I do the same

I normally pull the strop off to my left side, but try to elevate my hand holding the end to just under the arm. I find that angle works best for me. Speed is not as critical to me as a nice rhythmic stroke when stropping and minimal pressure keeping the blade and spine flat on the strop and rolling on the spine when changing directions.

Have fun,

Lynn

Like Lynn I pull to my left, keeping the strop taut with a steady rhythm. I'm stropping east to west, or across my body, not towards and away. Actually my torso is probably on a 45 degree angle to the strop. I use a zip tie (cable tie) on a door knob to hang my strops. Yes strops plural. Which I use depends on my mood that day.

I know from bicycle fitting that my crotch to floor leg length is 34 1/2" and that has the strop angled slightly down from my waist. I believe this is about the same as a pro barber used with the strop hooked to their barber's chair as most of them did. Works well for me.

Great question, Ness. I've often wondered how others stand while stropping. Through experience I've ended up pulling the razor off to the side and going in a similar direction to you. I found that it helps you to have a stable and flat hand position so you can just use your fingers.
I'm most interested in foot/leg position and whether people allow their bodies to move with the stroke or try to keep still. Personally I point the inside foot in the direction of the strop and do allow the torso to swing a little as I go. It usually feels pretty comfortable and I can go for quite a while but sometimes I feel a little like I'm straining which leads me to question the way I stand.

I go north to south with the strop attached to a hook under my medicine cabinet. I would post a photo but my 3" latigo is not nearly wide enough to protect my medesty, as I often shave immediately out of the shower.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I know from bicycle fitting that my crotch to floor leg length is 34 1/2" and that has the strop angled slightly down from my waist. I believe this is about the same as a pro barber used with the strop hooked to their barber's chair as most of them did. Works well for me.

Jimmy, just to be clear, are you saying that your strop is attached to the door at waist height and is pulled slightly downwards when you strop?

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

Jimmy, just to be clear, are you saying that your strop is attached to the door at waist height and is pulled slightly downwards when you strop?

Pulled slightly upward, stropping slightly downward.

Like everyone else I center myself with the strop in my left hand and the razor in my right.

Even though I'm left handed I strop with my right hand and the strop is attached to the door ar the middle hinge so I usually pull the strop to the left and a tad upwards. I'm not at a 45 degree angle but not too far off.