Thread: Stropping not going so well

Hi guys, I know I come up with some remedial stuff, but i guess if I don't ask I'll never know. Basically I'm terrible at stropping I'm pretty sure I messed my Thiers edge up its been tearing my face up. I'd love to blame it on shaving technique but i have had pretty good success in that dept. and i just got a cheap bench strop to learn on and that's when the problem began. I watched the video on the home page and it is very insightful, but my best efforts won't match up with it. Here is where I need your suggestions: 1. when i try to bring the razor back and forth using the technique on the video it seems my razor blade doesn't actually make contact long 2. my wrist begins to hurt after about five strokes trying the rolling technique 3. how should the x pattern go. Any info i'd appreciate. Also, should i send it to get it rehoned i shaved with it for a month before it really started to dull and make my face hurt without stropping, i just got the new strop last week and it seems to be getting worse? I have a new dovo on the way so i could do without it for a while i guess, besides it is only tearing my face up now so i guess i should unless you have any suggestions to get it back to it's original glory.

thanks,
Ronny

Stropping should be a natural fluid motion.

If your hand-wrist is hurting that means that's not the case. Maybe you are using way more pressure or are not holding the razor so it stays in constant contact with the strop. I would get a butter knife and practice slowly using the knife so you can see what you are doing and then practice until you have it down right.

If your razor it damaging your face don't use it. It needs some work. if you can't do it send it out but don't strop until you have that skill down. We have numerous videos on the site demonstrating this.

Can you post a video of your stropping? would help to assess

Much can be said for stropping like the pros do, as demonstrated by Alan and Sham. I hope I don't ruffle too many feathers here, but I really believe you have to find a technique that works for you, as the traditional finger rolling technique doesn't seem to be providing the natural fluid motion that you require. Without it you will not get the optimal benefits from stropping that you are trying to achieve. My technique isn't exactly the same as the old pros do it; I incorporate finger rolling with very minimal wrist movement, which is very natural for me and very effective as well. I agree with thebigspendur, use a butter knife or dull razor and practice different grips and flipping motions until you find a way that is both comfortable and natural.

rweb1683,

Think of the filpping motion of your fingers as being similar to how you would turn a dial on say a radio with your thumb and first finger.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

You can also practice by gently rolling a pencil in your fingers. I, as usual, agree with Ryan; you can find a way that works for you.

I think if you just slow way down and take your time the pain and difficulty will start to go away.

Ronnie, thank you for posting. If all we got were glowing success stories, we'd never learn much.

I sucked at stropping so badly I butchered 5 strops. It each case it was one little detail I didn't know that caused the carnage, having to do w/ the flip at the end of a stroke. The practice w/ a dull razor would be particularly helpful. It sounds ominous, but 50k strokes from now, it won't be an issue.

Glen's thread is one of the best I've seen (with Afdavis' vids linked). Particularly helpful might be the idea of laying a hanging strop on a flat surface. 'Paddle strop behavior with hanging strop length.
Beginners Tips: March 2011

Mrsell had a great one about the flip also.
Please don't nick your strop

If you need blades touched up to get them back to comfortable shaving, PM me.

I would love to be able to post a video it would help everyone assess what I was doing wrong as well as others who maybe making the same mistakes, but I am computer illiterate if I figure it out though I will do it.

Originally Posted by rwebb1683

I would love to be able to post a video ... but I am computer illiterate if I figure it out though I will do it.

Easy as 123:
1. Take the video and transfer it to you computer (memory card, cd, usb-stick, what the camera uses)
2. Create a youtube account for yourself and upload the video.
3. Post the link here.

I started this thing before these forums existed so when I taught myself stropping I didn't know about the finger rolling maneuver. I'm with Ryan. I don't roll the fingers but keep my wrist straight.

I tried the finger rolling thing and can do it but at this point I'd have to start from scratch and master it and there just isn't any reason since my method works just fine for me however if you are starting out you should learn the proper method. You can always modify later.