Thread: pro stropping style

The use of leather to finish an edge is not confined to razors, being used in all trades that use edge tools and implements. This epiphany came hundreds of years ago and the practise of achieving a perfect edge is historically bound to the act of stropping. This wheel doesn't need reinventing ;D

PuFF

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

The use of leather to finish an edge is not confined to razors, being used in all trades that use edge tools and implements. This epiphany came hundreds of years ago and the practise of achieving a perfect edge is historically bound to the act of stropping. This wheel doesn't need reinventing ;D

PuFF

true to a point sir,but stropping a razor is a tad diff than other edged tools.

If you refer to just removing a wire edge, then yes. To get a fine edge to a tool, continued use of the leather will refine the edge. I use a very wide range of edge tools in my work as a shipwright and to gain the best edge you go through the grades of hone to finish on the leather the same as a razor. I see no difference in the process based on over 25 years of using both edge tools and a straight razor. I feel the gaining of a proper edge is the same no matter what the use the edge is put to.

PuFF

Leather is used for many things. It can be used as a polishing aid in a tumbler and most jewelers and watchmakers will have a big heavy lap wheel with leather covering it to polish jewelry and especially watch cases.

Originally Posted by HNSB

That's what's great about SRP. Ask a question about stropping and we'll even give you some advice about gardening.

Gardening is simple give plants compost water and sun and they grow.
Any one in the Orange or Rockland counties want free french tarragon cuttings.
Just stick it in dirt away from sun for first week then in sun it will grow.

I'm about 1 year into straight shaving, and the 4 razors I own were starting to shave less than satisfactory. I honed them myself, but still was not satisfied, and thought I'd have to send them out for honing. I had always strived to strop with no pressure, then I read a post by Glen saying that you should strop with "some" pressure. I adopted this, loosened up on the strop just a little and presto! The Robert Williams that I thought would never shave well purrs like a kitten. I never would've figured this one change in stropping would made such a change, but it did. Thanks Glen.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I'm about 1 year into straight shaving, and the 4 razors I own were starting to shave less than satisfactory. I honed them myself, but still was not satisfied, and thought I'd have to send them out for honing. I had always strived to strop with no pressure, then I read a post by Glen saying that you should strop with "some" pressure. I adopted this, loosened up on the strop just a little and presto! The Robert Williams that I thought would never shave well purrs like a kitten. I never would've figured this one change in stropping would made such a change, but it did. Thanks Glen.

There is always something new to learn about straight razor shaving, which is why I think I got bored with DE shaving but never get tired of the straight.

Liam Finnegan hasn't actually given anyone a straight razor shave in 15 years, so I think the flaccid stropping was just a part he was playing in a living diorama of that place they used to call a barbershop.

Originally Posted by WW243

Liam Finnegan hasn't actually given anyone a straight razor shave in 15 years, so I think the flaccid stropping was just a part he was playing in a living diorama of that place they used to call a barbershop.

The YouTube video was made at least 15 years ago?

Just funnin'
Last 10 minutes of my work day and I felt sort of punch drunk from boredom.