Thread: Additional passes with a paddle strop

After viewing two excellent vidieos on stropping by AF Davis , i have decided that I have much more control of the razor on a shorter strop(paddle strop as opposed to a regular hanging strop), my question is this: should you double the number of passes on a short( Paddle) strop to achieve the same result as you would a longer( hanging) strop?For example , 40 passes on a paddle strop as opposed to 20 passes on a longer strop ?..........Thanks. This probably has to do with good old common sense but just checking.........

You're intellect and intuition have successfully merged. Congrats. There is, of course, the likely extrapolation of more efficient passes = less total distance needed to prepare the edge (compared to the hanging strop). That was assuming that when you imply less control that your passes aren't as efficient. Let's pursue abstraction beyond a single page of posts, eh?

This post was certianly not meant to offend you....just honest question.......Have a great day !

No offense ('cept for your spelling of certianly). I want to see more posts than can fit on a page!

I think that a paddle strop may be less efficient but easier to avoid nicking than a hanging strop. On a paddle it is easy to make more controlled passes and keep the pressure or lack of it uniform. I have two hanging strops and haven't touched them in months. I usually make at least 100 passes on the paddle strop and sometimes as many as 200.

driver/examiner,

I use a paddle strop exclusively for my stropping needs, and I do exactly as you suggest; I do 1.5 times more passes on the paddle than I did on my hangers (90 passes vs 60).

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by AxelH

You're intellect and intuition have successfully merged. Congrats. There is, of course, the likely extrapolation of more efficient passes = less total distance needed to prepare the edge (compared to the hanging strop). That was assuming that when you imply less control that your passes aren't as efficient. Let's pursue abstraction beyond a single page of posts, eh?

That seems to me to be a complicated way of saying yes. And we all know what "assuming" does to anything.

The bottom line is eventually you will know how many laps you need by the feel of the edge of the blade on your skin.

You are right on target. I too exclusively use paddle strops/bench strops. I work to keep my stones flat, so shouldn't my strop be the same for optimum efficiency?

You will find how many strokes your strop needs to get the razor right. Change your increments by 20x (more & less) until you find where your strop and blade get the edge where it is supposed to be. Every strop is different. My personal average is 60x before a shave, but when I finish shaving and put a razor up I strop it 20-30x.