I didn't think I would enjoy stropping with a barber's end, but I have definitely come around to it. I wasn't able to find a thread here about this, so I thought I'd start one to canvass (heh) people's approaches to gripping them.
Initially, I was all in on the thumb grip (1), but over time I became worried about the fact my fat, greasy thumb was going to wear off the gold stamp. Also, the thumb grip doesn't support the edges of the strop, so you may get some cupping at the back end.
The I moved to the cupping grip (2) which alleviates said risk, but can also cause some cracking of the stamp? I don't know, but it was enough to push me forward to the covered thumb (3) which I felt was an advance on the previous two, but still not ideal for the stamp, and my aforemetioned greasy thumb was still dead centre. Finally, I alighted on what I have trademarked the Right Thumb (4). Where you get support of the strop from beneath, thumb is out of the way of the stamp, and the whole setup is comfortable.
So, what is your grip preference (photos welcome)? And does it matter? Do you care about the stamps (assuming it is embossed with something)? Or do you just grab it and go and view all of this as a degree of obsession bordering on the unhealthy?
The grips:
1. Thumb (Left) 2. Cupped (Right)
3. Covered thumb (Left) 4. Right Thumb (Right!)
Initially, I was all in on the thumb grip (1), but over time I became worried about the fact my fat, greasy thumb was going to wear off the gold stamp. Also, the thumb grip doesn't support the edges of the strop, so you may get some cupping at the back end.
The I moved to the cupping grip (2) which alleviates said risk, but can also cause some cracking of the stamp? I don't know, but it was enough to push me forward to the covered thumb (3) which I felt was an advance on the previous two, but still not ideal for the stamp, and my aforemetioned greasy thumb was still dead centre. Finally, I alighted on what I have trademarked the Right Thumb (4). Where you get support of the strop from beneath, thumb is out of the way of the stamp, and the whole setup is comfortable.
So, what is your grip preference (photos welcome)? And does it matter? Do you care about the stamps (assuming it is embossed with something)? Or do you just grab it and go and view all of this as a degree of obsession bordering on the unhealthy?
The grips:
1. Thumb (Left) 2. Cupped (Right)
3. Covered thumb (Left) 4. Right Thumb (Right!)