Thread: Counting while stroping

When stropping remember..... the razor can't count. If you strop 50 or 60 the razor won't know. If you don't think you've stropped enough do a few more, what can it hurt. The shave will let you know. After awhile you'll just feel it. Happy stropping.

When I hone or strop I count both ways so if I have to stop I can remember which direction I have to resume depending on odds or evens. Down side is I have to divide by 2 to not seem excessive on SRP .

I count. It helps with rythym and makes it seem to take forever!

Sounds like we all develop a technique. I count on the away stroke and go up to twenty, then start over, counting in batches of 20 or 10 or 5. I typically have been doing 25 strokes on linen and 50-60 on the hide.

Oz,

Is it a disaster if you forget whether you stopped on an up or down stroke, or do you just start all over....
Remember, it is important to do exactly the same number of strokes on each side of the blade to prevent an unbalanced blade which may be difficult to shave with!

Sunbird

Originally Posted by ECD

Hi its me again I am starting to learn how to strop doing to slowly as they say but the thing that's messing me up is the counting how many times you strop I know you got to do it between 40 to 60 but I concentrate so much on doing the strop right so that i don't damage the strop that about after 20 I. have lost count!! Is there a secret to this counting while you strop if there is can i have it please

I can relate to what you're going through. I'm just now making progress and I've been at it about 2-3 years. It's just going to come together eventually, trust me. One of the joys of straight shaving besides the best shaves available is knowing what effort it took to achieve them. You give yourself a treat and morale boost every time you do it.

Originally Posted by alb1981

Honestly I only count my down strokes. I start with an upwards stroke and count 1 on the down. But then I am simple when it comes to numbers so it has to be easy lol

+1 I start down and count on the down strokes... that way I don't have to count too high. lol

1(down), up, 2, up, 3, up and so on... I suspect in the near future I will stop counting though as I've been knick free on the strop for some time and my rhythm is fine.

Originally Posted by Sunbird

Oz,

Is it a disaster if you forget whether you stopped on an up or down stroke,

Depends on how bad your OCD is .

You lose count around twenty? The secret is to strop until you lose count three times!

I count " one, one. Two, two, etc." This is due to 1 being a round trip. 1 up, 1 down. I've done it so much, I couldn't lose count if I tried!