how taut is your hanging strop?

[newson]

i've got a russian leather/linen jemico strop (leather side 16")with a looped leather hand-grip.
i'm left-handed, and so grip the strop with the right while stropping with the left.

a difficulty i've always had with hanging strops is keeping the strop very taut with my right hand, while having the left apply minimal pressure. the only way i can do this is by gripping the strop before the handle, effectively shortening the strop, so as there's less give. applying different pressure - strop hand hard, razor hand feather-light - is hard work.

anybody have any comments?

(p.s. i don't see a lot of stropping filmettes out there in youtubeland, maybe i'll have to attempt a directorial debut.)

[expatCanuck]

How taut, indeed!
I've always considered that kind of a private matter between my wife & I. :biggrin:

[joel]

I keep my strop pretty taut. Where do you have it hanging from? I've never had any issues with a well mounted strop being pulled quite taut.

[newson]

to joel:

my strop is firmly attached to the vertical door jamb at about hip-height. but pulling very tight with one hand makes the other hand tend to go in a bit heavy, in sympathy. any filmettes you suggest?

[asbjorn]

you should look at Lynn's DVD, he attaches the strop a little lover, so he holds it up sort of...

[joke1176]

The only way to overcome your problem is practice, friend. You have to overcome the reflex to use the same muscle tension reciprocally.

I recommend holding strap arm rigid and use your legs to put the tension on. A little lean back and you should be ready to rock that tight strop!!

[netsurfr]

A little lean back and you should be ready to rock that tight strop!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[asbjorn]

just don't rip out the wall.. :D

[joke1176]

just don't rip out the wall.. :D

Good point! I just put up a new strop hook in the bathroom, secured it to the wall with 2 1/2" wood screws right into the stud, just to prevent that sort of thing.

I would be in some serious trouble if I yanked the towel rack off the wall.:a13:

[loueedacat]

As practice, I suggest patting your head with your left hand while simultaneiously rubbing your right hand in circles around your tummy.

[asbjorn]

As well as shaving with both hands.. I'm afraid of that one..

[newson]

to asbjorn:
tks for the tip. i'll try dropping it down to thigh height. and no, i haven't got the lynn video, just seen the short version on the web.

to loueedacat: tks for that. should i smear my belly with peanut butter before the rubbing? i'll going to try this on the nature strip and see how long before help arrives.

[Bruce]

newson,

Your comment about rubbing peanut butter onto your tummy bespeaks some oral fixation coupled with some concerns about the use of two hands simultaneously executing different movements. I'd like to suggest the chewing of bubblegum while walking regimen for easing into the separate movement mode while at the same time helping satisfy and possibly reduce your oral/dietary discontent. You could add clapping while walking and chewing to demonstrate to yourself the breadth of your possible physical accomplishments. Alternate the clapping of hands with the occasional smart slap to your shoulders and you will perceive this as patting yourself on the back. Yes indeed, the sky will be your limit.:biggrin:

best of luck, :thumbup:

[joke1176]

newson,

...I'd like to suggest the chewing of bubblegum while walking regimen for easing into the separate movement mode while at the same time helping satisfy and possibly reduce your oral/dietary discontent. You could add clapping while walking and chewing to demonstrate to yourself the breadth of your possible physical accomplishments. Alternate the clapping of hands with the occasional smart slap to your shoulders and you will perceive this as patting yourself on the back. ...

I tried to do all those things at once, and I lost control of my bowels. :crying: Don't try that at home!

[Monkeyboy]

I just watched Lynn's straight shave demo video (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7466711741780429878&q=straight+razor&ei=RqU_SLL3DIGuqQPOt93GCA&hl=en).

His stropping technique looks like he holds the strop fairly loosely. I've been holding mine so taut that it doesn't flex at all. Does it make a difference as long as it isn't super loose?

[joke1176]

I just watched Lynn's straight shave demo video (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7466711741780429878&q=straight+razor&ei=RqU_SLL3DIGuqQPOt93GCA&hl=en).

His stropping technique looks like he holds the strop fairly loosely. I've been holding mine so taut that it doesn't flex at all. Does it make a difference as long as it isn't super loose?


My two bits on that: I haven't watched those videos, but I would think that using no pressure on a loose strop is analogous to using firm-light (at least 2x weight of blade) on a tight strop.

End result is you get contact of cutting edge with leather to realign it; I feel you have more control of that contact with a tight strop, but whatever works for you!

That being said, I wouldn't want to roll the edge with a loose strop, but I am paranoid about that sort of thing. :wink:

Edit: I just watched the stropping part of that vid...wow. He knows what he's doing, and I am not going to say that his technique will wreck that shaving edge, but...WOW...

[Thebigspendur]

Holding the strop with proper tension is very important. I usually attach one end to my Honda and the other to my son's Honda and when both cars wheels are spinning I know the strop is stiff enough.

Really, you can be too anal about this thing. As long as the strop is comfortable tight with the slightest flex to it you will be fine.

[Seraphim]

I also was quite shocked at how much sag was in Lynn's strop.

I pull mine until at least three or four veins are popping out on my left forearm and my knuckles are turning white.

Then, and only then, shall I begin to strop...

[Doc4]

With enough practice you will be, like the rest of us, self-taut.

Seriously though, practice. I mean, practice pulling with the right hand in a manner that will tighten your strop, and do something delicate or light-pressured with the left. Maybe brush your teeth while holding your strop taut. Once you learn to tighten 'these' muscles while keeping 'those' ones loose, you are set!

[Seraphim]

I also like to say things like:

"Who's your Daddy?!"

"How do you like them apples!"

"Take THAT!"

"YEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAW! Gidde-yup!"

As well as assorted animal/neanderthal noises & grunts whilst stropping.

YMMV

[Slant-Fan]

A local honemeister showed me his stropping technique and when he is moving the razor over the strop there is about a quarter to a half inch of sag in the center of the strop. Very light touch on the strop. I have been using this technique and so far so good.

[Tyrfingr]

newson,

Your comment about rubbing peanut butter onto your tummy bespeaks some oral fixation coupled with some concerns about the use of two hands simultaneously executing different movements. I'd like to suggest the chewing of bubblegum while walking regimen for easing into the separate movement mode while at the same time helping satisfy and possibly reduce your oral/dietary discontent. You could add clapping while walking and chewing to demonstrate to yourself the breadth of your possible physical accomplishments. Alternate the clapping of hands with the occasional smart slap to your shoulders and you will perceive this as patting yourself on the back. Yes indeed, the sky will be your limit.:biggrin:

best of luck, :thumbup:

Damn, i almost spat coffee reading that! :lol::lol:

[scottish steve]

Watched that video and he seems to be putting a lot of pressure on the strop; almost using it violently. Obviously he's an experienced user, but did it give anybody else pause?

[swink]

I think TOO taut can cause the middle of the strop to bulge slightly (it does for me) and therefore the blade won't lie flat. I've been holding my strop a LITTLE looser lately and have improved draw and good shaving results.

[kelbro]

I do about 1/2" of flex in the middle. Works great.

[Utopian]

Ditto. The few videos of stropping by old time barbers have all shown some degree of deflection of the strop during the motion. They are definitely not holding it completely taut.