I watched a old professional barber with a white coat on youtube strop a razor on a very very loose strop using hard strokes going 100 miles a hour. I know if I did that I could throw it in the trash. Was that a joke video or for real ?
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I watched a old professional barber with a white coat on youtube strop a razor on a very very loose strop using hard strokes going 100 miles a hour. I know if I did that I could throw it in the trash. Was that a joke video or for real ?
It's for real. As long as the spine and edge are in contact with the strop, with the leather deflecting at the spine, it will work effectively.
The reason it's generally recommended to people (especially beginners) to use a taut strop is that it's easier to strop without rolling the edge.
Yes, barbers used to strop like that. It was part of the show. However I never did see them use a loose strop. They kept it pretty straight.
If the vid was of Liam Neesan(sp) - its quite real. At the Waldorf? In Scotland? If so, he's amazing.
Gotta link to the Vid??
Here's a video of Liam Finnegan stropping:
Razor Strop - YouTube
Here's the interview that Obie did with Liam last year: Straight Razor Place - Conversation with Liam Finnegan
I do believe this is the perfect way to get a convex bevel. The strop is too loose. By stropping like that, razors need frequent honing.
As long as the strop deflection is at the spine, it's ok. I strop on a loose strop (maybe not as loose as Liam). I prefer the feel of stropping that way, and my edges hold up just fine.
Note that I am not pushing the method, especially for new guys. I just want to clarify that it's not harmful to the razor so long as it's done correctly.
Like HNSB, I've moved to a looser stropping method (also not as loose as the video) this seems to work fine for me as well. It comes down to what works for you and your razors