Thread: Palm Stropping?

Sorry if there's already a thread of this... I did a search and didn't find anything.

I've seen videos of Mastro Livi doing this, and heard that it's a great way to strop a Kamisori... What's the verdict for regular razors? Not worth doing? I think it sounds neat, and if it proves beneficial to my blades, why not?

I think that I'm going to try using TM Linen, and my palm prior to a shave soon, rather than using my normal array of leathers... Just to see what happens...

Any experiences, thoughts, or comments?

I think he strops a full size blade.
On another hand why waste your palm, when you can use a reg strop?

While I don't care to disagree with Maestro Livi over anything, I cannot imagine it benefiting more than a strop. I wonder if it's more of an evaluative tool for him?

I've never nicked a strop. I'd say if one has a propensity for nicking strops, palm stropping should be avoided!

Originally Posted by Utopian

...I'd say if one has a propensity for nicking strops, palm stropping should be avoided!

I bet you would only do it once.

Here are a few you might peek at. Found in a forum search:

Stropping On The Hand, Again - Straight Razor Place Forums
palm stropping for kamisori - Straight Razor Place Forums
Hand(Palm) Stropping - Straight Razor Place Forums

I don't think his palm stropping is to actually strop the razor but as has been said part of the evaluation process for him. I guess he's done it enough so that he can tell by the feel on his palm that the razor is ready.

If I'm without a strop, I prefer to strop on my arm. Just today, though, I have discovered that palm stropping is a good way to dry off a blade that's just been dunked while buffing (the harbor freight rags do some things well, but absorbing water is not one of them - I palm strop one stroke, wipe hand on shirt, strop other side, wipe hand on shirt; repeat till razor is dry). Personally, I wouldn't do it with a sharp razor.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

If I'm without a strop, I prefer to strop on my arm. Just today, though, I have discovered that palm stropping is a good way to dry off a blade that's just been dunked while buffing (the harbor freight rags do some things well, but absorbing water is not one of them - I palm strop one stroke, wipe hand on shirt, strop other side, wipe hand on shirt; repeat till razor is dry). Personally, I wouldn't do it with a sharp razor.

Yeah, I saw Joed's post on that in a different thread (using the forearm) and tried it... Worked pretty well, actually...

Its not something I would try, just because you'll get the mother and father of all cuts if you get it wrong!

I know people say "But I never nick my strop, I have a steady hand yadda yadda..", but thats not much comfort when you're in A&E, minus a few digits, a pint or two of blood and your other half is holding a bag of peas with your fingers in it!

I would say avoid. Mastro Livi might do it, but the guy is a professional bladesmith with decades of experience, so he probably knows what he's doing..!

Yea, and there are enough professional guys with decades of experience around power tools out there who go by the name of lefty.