How to strop more effectively?

[Shangas]

Hi folks, I'm creating this thread because I have a question about stropping.

When I see videos of stropping on Youtube, I'm immediately conscious of the smooth, nonstop action that the 'professionals' manage to pull off. Stopping at the end of each pass and flipping the blade over and drawing it back again, flipping it over again and drawing it up again and so forth, up and down the strop in one smooth, fluid motion.

My question is...is this motion only possible on hanging strops? I've got a paddle strop and I wondered if I can do the same stropping-motion on that as well? Also, how do you hold the razor to do that neat spine-flip at the end of each stroke?

 

[Luc]

Yep, a paddle would be used the same way.

For the how to hold it. I open the scales at 180 degrees and place my thumb on the bottom jimps. I place my hand in a way that I will be able to flip the edge of the razor 180 degrees when I come back.

This should help: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=348225#post348225

 

[spanx]

Check out Seraphims' razor cam.His second video shows in detail what his fingers are doing and where they are placed.As far as stropping in a fluid motion I start my flip while the razor is in motion.About 2 inches from my fingers or the other end.When I have reached 1 inch from the end my razor edge is straight up and then I start going the other direction,then i bring the edge back in contact with the strop at about 2 inches from either end. i never come to a stop when the blade is in contact with the strop. You can do the same motion on a paddle as well as a hanging strop.

 

[matt321]

Another example:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Idqp0zN8FA&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Alacrity59]

We all . . . or at least I was . . . impressed by the various videos showing stropping at quite a fast speed. I tried going for speed at first . . .but really now out a fair few months . . . the speed does come by itself . . . given time and practice=

 

[RF1963]

...the speed does come by itself . . . given time and practice=

I suspect it's one of those things that you can over-think and by doing so make a complete mess of it!

 

[domino]

I suspect it's one of those things that you can over-think and by doing so make a complete mess of it!

^You made a good point.

Here is another video that is very good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mj5YliQQzg&feature=player_embedded

 

[Gustav]

I used a paddle strop for almost two months without really stopping to think if I would use it differently to a hanging strop. Speed comes with time and it does also help to have a nice a broad strop because it increases the blade surface in contact with the strop thus keeping the blade more stable.

 

[Shangas]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I am slowly getting the hang of it. I'm still rather sloppy and wobbly, though.

 

[mdunn]

i think its easier on a hanging strop as there is more give, but i would say its 99% practice