Can't be good

I notice that I have to really pay attention to the "sway" of my 3" SRD strop.

As a noob, I have caught myselft stropping while the strop itself was ****eyed. What I mean is that the head of the strop was in one direction and the foot (where I hold) is in another direction. Thus, the strop is not perfectly flat. It is twisted.

Holding the foot tighter does not flatten it. I have to reset the head where it connects to the swivel by slapping it down.

This MUST be causing some type of edge degradation when I don't catch this...

Any tips on how to prevent this from happening at all? Just get a paddle instead?

Note: The strop is at waist height; it connects to an eye hook with the included latch. I have even used twine instead to increase the connection point to the eye hook.

Thanks in advance...

If I'm reading correctly....Have you tried pulling it taut, then rub your hand down from the connection point, or head, to the foot, Making it straight? Mine does this too, because of the swivel...right?...Normally, once I get it straight, and pull it taut, it stays put, nice and level....

FWIW, mine is waist high as well...

+1 on the swivel. When I've run into that a dab of gun grease or oil on the swivel usually took care of it.

Zib, You are reading it right. Glad to see that I am not insane and this is normal.

When it happens, I do rub it out/slap it to be flat again.

Jimmy, I will oil the swivel to see if that helps lessen this occurence.

Thanks...

If the strop is consistantly crooked when you strop eventually you will put uneven wear along an edge of the strop depending on which side is off and by how much.

Are you sure it's perfectly flat when you begin? I sometimes find my strop is twisted and realize I probably hung it that way to begin with. After I adust it, it stays flat so I assume it didn't happen while stropping.

+2 on manually straightening the strop, it will stay put. Every now and then momentarily roll the strop up one side and then the other. This will help to keep it straight.
Ernest

Elendil

Yea, I know exactly what you are talking about. My SRP does the same. I believe it comes from the handle. When I pull the handle it is at an awkward angle and I end up twisting my wrist to compensate.

I resolved the issue and hook my left hand thumb through the ring between the handle and the end of the strop. This is a much more comfortable way to tension the strop and also puts my body in a much better angle facing the strop and prevents twisting at the wrist.

Sometimes I do have to adjust the swivel to begin with, but it will remain corrected once adjusted and tensioned.

I also have lengthened my strops with a piece of Nylon boot lace or Para Cord and if it is twisted will twist the strop if the swivel is not adjusted. I also put D rings on my strops as opposed to handles for just that reason and it works much better for me.

Try the thumb technique and adjust the swivel on the SRP before you begin stropping. You just have to find a routine that works best for you. You have a good strop there.

Marty

I actually turn my strop on the swivel about 30 or so degrees to me when stropping. I have noticed over time that with the way I hold the razor to strop that when I keep the strop perfectly flat that I tend to lead into the strop with the toe of the razor. I can usually tell when this is happening and it might be hard for a new guy to notice and when this happens, you may only be stropping the the first 2/3's of the blade. If you go slower and make sure the entire blade is flat on the strop then holding it flat is fine. I do the same thing when using all my strops including the 2 1/2 inch vintage with not ring or handle. The key is to develop both a grip and taughtness that works best for you.

Have fun,

Lynn

All my strops are on swivels and hooked over very smooth metal hooks. They all, when I first grasp whatever kind of handle it has, have a slight curved twist. I just quickly twist my grip bring the strop tight and the strop comes flat and even. It's an automatic check with me. This includes SRP, TM, NM, NM single linen.

Gents, Thanks for all the advice. I have lengthened my strop with a piece of twine and moved it up in height. I do find holding the D ring keeps it straighter than the handle.

I also find different results if I hold the second strop either directly under the leather or let it hang. If I let it hang, the leather is easier to keep straight and has more feedback with the draw...

Hi Elendi,
My SRD tends to do the same. When I see it, then just adjust the swivel and it should go flat and then you can proceed to strop. As others have eluded to, stropping using a "twisted" strop will lead to uneven stropping of the blade

You'll get the hang of it.