Thread: Stropping Video

....great video............. Thank you for taking the time to make it for us newbies...............!!!

Great Vid !!!!

The most useful stropping lesson ever had!
Which kind of strop is the one used in the video?

You're welcome. That is a custom Tony Miller 3inch wide paddle Leather/Balsa strop. One of the few of it's kind in the world. The balsa is impregnated with .5 CrOx.

Never seen anything like that.

And you probably never will again. He made it for me based on my specifications. For some reason it was not a good seller and he discontinued it.

I have looked at your videos very closely, and I've noticed that you put a very light pressure and make a short backward and forward movement. I've seen another video where the movement (on a hanging strop) was very wide and with noticeable pressure.
Do it depends on strops or is it a different technique?
I have a large frame strop (leather and denim) and I make 20 passages (for razor side) on leather before shaving, and 10 on every side of strop before putting razor away, which advice could you give me?
Ciao, Lucio.

This video was designed to emphasize finger motion. On a longer strop you should make a longer stroke. For pressure I use about twice the weight of the blade when stropping. I use a light touch generally, but, because I am using a paddle strop it might appear that I am using even less than I really am.

If you are uncertain about pressure, I suggest applying enough pressure to feel some draw and test shave. Then if desired strop again with slightly more pressure and see if you find improvement. It is easier to learn to strop if you know how to hone and can correct an edge if needed. Never let a hanging strop sag.

Alan:

Video was great and very informative. I look forward to future productions.

Just got my strop today! Quick question Alan. When you're stropping, is the whole face of the razor running against the strop or is just the edge of the blade? I'm assuming just the edge but in the video it seemed like the whole face of the blade was flat against the strop.