Thread: Scales - vs- Tang -vs- Stropping

I always make the scales the width of the tang. Even a little narrower is fine, but wider can be a real pain to strop.
When the razor is open for stropping the tang should line up nicely with the scales, too much curve to the scales also can cause stropping issues even when the scales are similar width with the tang.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

So true,scale Ergonomics are very often overlooked in favor of wild and crazy.

Yas.
over the years I find that very classic shapes are the best looking. I believe that everything there was to invent as far as scale ergonomics has been invented already. Going away from traditional designs too much results in odd looking and uncomfortable for honing and stropping scales.

Great observation! Granted, im a relative newb, but of 5 straights ( one semi-vintage), I have 2 that are just less natural to hold and balance to strop. The scales and tang are somewhat " out of line", not to the eye, but to the hand, and I have to concentrate harder to keep them properly aligned when stropping.

Thanks Glen for the insight...I thought it was just my newness!

Harold

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Great observation! Granted, im a relative newb, but of 5 straights ( one semi-vintage), I have 2 that are just less natural to hold and balance to strop. The scales and tang are somewhat " out of line", not to the eye, but to the hand, and I have to concentrate harder to keep them properly aligned when stropping.

Thanks Glen for the insight...I thought it was just my newness!

Harold

One of the most Important aspects of stropping is, IMO, blade tension,That blade has to be tight in the scales (to a point)for me the tighter the better.A loose Floppy blade will Kill stropping every time.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

One of the most Important aspects of stropping is, IMO, blade tension,That blade has to be tight in the scales (to a point)for me the tighter the better.A loose Floppy blade will Kill stropping every time.

Very true, and that has to do with how the scales are made and also the wedge. The scales have to be flexible enough to allow for optimal tightness on the pivot pin, but also the wedge has to be the right angle and thickness to help the tension.

Nothing like flipping a razor on the return part of the lap and all of a sudden it feels like it is coming out of your hand. Real exciting when bare footed :<0) I have to admit that some of my first pivot pins were sooo tight I had to lube them twice a day :<0)

Originally Posted by mainaman

Very true, and that has to do with how the scales are made and also the wedge. The scales have to be flexible enough to allow for optimal tightness on the pivot pin, but also the wedge has to be the right angle and thickness to help the tension.

Absolutly,is more to making scales than meets the eye,are lots of perameters envolved,not just pinning two pces of wood together.

And just for the sake of guys new to stropping ........ when I am stropping, I've got the bottom of the tang under the tip of the thumb pad, and the top of the tang on the tip of my forefinger pad.

IOW, the flat of the the tips of the thumb and forefinger. My middle, ring and little fingers are just barely touching the scales behind the tang/pivot area, cradling the scales and assisting the thumb and forefinger in keeping everything in line and together.

Same when I am honing. I found that flipping the razor is more efficient, for me anyhow, when I hold the tang top and bottom rather than on the sides. I also do not bend my wrist, all of the flip is done betwixt the fingertips. YMMV.

Great subject Glen!
First time I noticed this was during a clinic we were sponsoring, a gentleman brought a practice
(imitation) razor. He kept loosing his grip trying to learn to strop. When I tried with the razor I felt the problem, it wouldn't turn in my hand naturally. Took me a few minutes to figure out why.

Funny seeing this as I just did a dry fit with a razor that has a thumb notch and between the scales and the thumb notch it is throwing off the stropping action. I am going to have to tweak the scales some. This is why I always do a dry fit before I do any final sanding and finishing.