Thread: Stropmeisters need your input - video

I've been shaving for couple months now I've been curious about my stropping abilities. I must apologize for the quality of the video as I don't have a tripod. I had to improvise with my mobile phone. Unfortunately, I couldn't get hold of MSNBC's Chris Hansen to provide narration so you'd have to make due with the geek narrator.

The razors stropped were both western and Japanese style razors on 3" SRD Latigo.

Due to quality of video I'm not sure if sounds turned out alright as it always different when uploaded into photobucket.

Also had to cut it down some because I doubt anyone here has time to watch 10minute video on stropping :P

The sound quality is poor :crook:

Throughout the course of stropping I've nicked my strop a good 50x. Not ashamed to admit that. We all have to start somewhere. Thanks to Lynn's video, countless threads not to mention the wiki here it allowed me to fully grasp the concept of stropping. That it's important to take your time as you would shaving so as not to ruin the edge by rolling/nicking strop.

In past I made the mistake of lifting the edge before I finished stropping so before I incur anymore damage, I stopped and watched Lynn's video again.

I know it isn't perfect but eventually I'll hone my stropping skills.

Constructive criticism be it positive/negative or any verbal thrashing welcome

Thanks,

Ivan

When I evaluate stropping for other users I don't look down on the strop as you have your camera angle, but two suggestions:

1) Its a pretty wide strop, I think you'll attain a flatter blade contact by using a perpendicular stroke. The stroke doesn't appear as flat as it should, but this could be a camera angle issue

2) You are turning your wrist a lot. I would move the blade with my fingers, rolling it like a pencil. Some guys do move their wrist a lot, but for even pressure on both sides I would suggest using your fingers.

Well Ivan, it's hard to tell with the video and the angle, but to me it SOUNDS like you're using a lot of pressure...I don't know, though. Are you?

Also, like the man said, try rolling in your fingers, rather than with your wrist. It made a difference for me, both for the arm and for the razor.

I also noticed that you have the razor at an angle to the strop at some point.
Try X pattern as recommended for strops that are narrower than the razor.

You've already ruled out a piece of acvice I was going to give. I do start to lift the razor before I finish the stroke. Not that I've never nicked a strop, of course I have but never by doing this. Maybe I need some advice here, should I not be doing this? Also, Like you, I don't use an X pattern, as I have a three inch strop. But I've read in one of the threads that if not using an X, you should hold the blade at an angle. I've been doing it that way now, with satisfactory results.

The Barber's Manual has a good description that will help minimize wrist action.

http://straightrazorplace.com/srpwik...t_-_Honing.pdf