Thread: strop stroke length

Hi, Im new here. sure this was asked before. I have full length strops and have best results with about a 12" stroke straight not angled. Does anyone use very short or end to end and get hanging hair sharp?

I think this is mostly preference. I wouldn't be too concerned about the length of the stroke but be more concerned with the proper amount of pressure, technique, and DO NOT LIFT the razor when stropping. When I first started I used to lift the razor slightly off the strop and wondered why my blades never stayed sharp. I was rounding the edge due to lifting the razor during stropping.

There are tons of videos and great info on stropping here in the forums and the wiki. Stropping does take a while to perfect but you will be able to tell if you are doing it right by the results of your shaves. Just be patient and stick with it.

I agree that it is personal preference but ....... tell you a story, back in the '80s I hung out in a friend's barber shop. My friend was maybe late 20s and he had a barber working for him who was 70, and had been barbering for 50 years. I had begun collecting straight razors and was dipping my foot in the water of shaving with them. One day the two of them were demonstrating correct stropping technique for me. They both had standard 23"x2 1/2" strops. The younger man used a very short, maybe a 10" or a 12" stroke, while the older fellow took almost the full length of the strop from one end to the other. .

The older man 'corrected' the younger and told him to "use the length" for best results. The younger was somewhat embarrassed by the criticism and defended his short stroke, saying it worked for him. Anyway, it made sense to me that the older fellow was right, and that the longer stroke had to be more effective. Made sense then and makes sense now. I also use an X stroke when I strop. It works on the hones and AFAIC it works better on the strop than a straight ahead style. Just IMHO.

I have always used the available length of the strop for stropping, from standards around 18" to my 30" pegasus.

I have good results with a light pressure on a med tight strop, and the last couple strokes I ease up a little on the tension. Don't really know if there is a better way or not. New here, thanks for the reply

I have to agree with Jimmy that longer strokes ought to do a better job. However, and it is a big however, many people will lift the razor at the end of the away stroke if the stroke is too long. As dtrain emphasized, that is a Bad Thing. Sooo.. in my opinion, the best stroke has to be the longest one that allows us to maintain proper contact with the strop.

rs,
Tack