Thread: stropping method

I have been reading about stropping on this site and all of the advice says to hold the strop tight and don't let it dip. Please look at htis video and tell me why this guy is stropping so hard and letting the strop dip reallly bad. He is obviously a professional but his stropping method goes against everything I read here. thanks!

That video has been discussed a few times before
Yes, it shows a different technique than what is most often recommended here, but I'm ever so sure that his razors are quite up to snuff regardless.

Now, keep in mind that this fellow is a seasoned shaver, and has spent years developing his technique.

I keep my strops rather taut, and that seems to work for me.

For someone just starting out, I'd say go with the recommendations from the wiki and the videos of AFDavis11 and hi_bud_gl.
Check out the stropping section of the wiki here You can see AFDavis11's video in that article as well.

I agree with B in the sense that you have to do what works best for you.

I keep the strop a bit looser than what I've seen on videos and what I've read. I've not rolled and edge or dulled it. I've played around with tight, taught, super loose, etc.....and this is what has given me the best edges and most consistent feel.

Start with what you see on the videos by AFDavis and hi_bud_gl. Then go from there.

Hope this helps a bit.

Lots of good advice from you all. :-)

I too just hold hold the end of the strop in a relaxed manner and let it sag in the middle. My dad used to do it that way, and it has always worked well for me. The way I think about it is this: It doesn't matter if the strop is taught or loose, what is important is that the edge of the razor drags along the surface with very little side-load. In other words, the edge is being gently pressed straight along with being lightly polished without being bent to the side.

Strop technique conversations are primarily read by newbies. For them, I think the "hold tight and strop light" advice is good advice. For undoubtedly, if the strop is bowed and you strop with pressure, I think most will agree it quite possible to dull the blade. So, why not give general advice that is most likely to keep newbies out of trouble?

As an aside, the closer the blade is to a wedge, the more slack I allow in my strop.

Where is the video?

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Strop technique conversations are primarily read by newbies. For them, I think the "hold tight and strop light" advice is good advice. For undoubtedly, if the strop is bowed and you strop with pressure, I think most will agree it quite possible to dull the blade. So, why not give general advice that is most likely to keep newbies out of trouble?

As an aside, the closer the blade is to a wedge, the more slack I allow in my strop.

+1 on the above.
i.e. the "hold tight and strop light" advice is good advice.

Not too long ago a translation of "Honing Razors and Nihonkamisori"
was posted. In it the original author made a point on stropping.
The point was that a strop could bend on the spine but
not on the edge (see Fig 1 and Fig 2 where he exaggerates this).
I would bet that this old barber let the razor edge touch the strop lightly
flowing behind the spine. It is almost possible to see this in
action on the video. When I get a great edge
from the strop that is what goes on for me.

By keeping the strop tight and the razor light on the
strop it is easy to minimize the pressure on the edge
and maximize the feeling of dragging or pulling the edge
across the strop in contrast to pressing the edge into
the leather.

As the razor is held between the thumb and forefinger the
thumb need only push the spine down the strop and
the edge will drag lightly on the surface as it should.

The translation is a good read...

In the beggining I hold my strop very tight (I closely follow instructions) but now (many years from the first time) I develop my own technique and in many cases my strop is also little bit loose.
That also depends of the razor and honing technique. If I strop wedge razor which is honed with 2 or 3 tape layers I hold strop very loose in the other hand if I strop full hollow razor I hold strop tight.

The "taught strop, loose razor' Concept is valid, but from what I was able to get out of the translation of Honing the Nihon Kamisori is that the slack of a strop should be bent around the spine of the razor with the edge following keeping what is generaly a light tension of the bevel side. If you would see the illistration it becomes more clear. Your puttoing your force on the spine as you drag the razor and the edge is being put down on the leather with just enough pressure to straghten out the edge of the bevel. I know, confusing without pictures, sorry.

Just a thought, tinkersd.