perhaps I'm being too cautious in stropping?

[gurana]

Ok... I was going to post a question regarding my stroping technique to my previous thread on my VB 3" latigo... but after seeing the video this thread of Livi honing and stropping a mini razor, I think I've got to reconsider some of my basic assumptions.

First a disclaimer: I know this guy is a master. At least I can surmise that. Just because he can get away with something, doesn't mean that I might be able to do the same. Such has been pointed out in the above linked thread.

My question was more about how to figure out what my stropping problem may be. I'm inclined to believe it's my technique, but was looking for advice on how to identify the issue. The strop seems straight enough. I worked it a bit to correct any issues that it may have had, but I still didn't seem to be making contact with the strop all across its length... not a problem I seem to have with the nylon strop. I even went so far as to place the strop under several heavy text books I had around the house. Stroping again seems to yeild similar issues, though it seems much better. I get really good feedback for portions of it, but not along the entire length.

Now, assuming my strop is "straight enough", one issue could be that I'm not applying enough pressure to ensure that the edge gets drawn across it all... after seeing the video where this guy manhandles the razor, I am more willing to believe this might be the case. I was going with the mentality that not much more pressure than what the weight of the razor provides should be used. Also, I didn't want to put too much pressure on the edge side of the blade (yes I'm leading with the spine) as I was afraid this would bend the edge.

So, am I being too timid here? Or does someone suspect that slight variations of the strop might in fact be the problem.

 

[TstebinsB]

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16837

 

[mdunn]

completely ignore everything livi does. You really want to avoid using pressure at all, because if you torque the blade a little, and it rolls on its edge then the blade is cactus

 

[gurana]

completely ignore everything livi does. You really want to avoid using pressure at all, because if you torque the blade a little, and it rolls on its edge then the blade is cactus

There's no way I was going to attempt stropping like him. As it stands, I'm fairly certain I've hosed my edge after like 3 shaves. To be honest, I'm not even sure if the edge was right for the second shave. I'm still thinking its in my stropping technique.

I've ordered a filly strop with the crox back... Hopefully whatever I've done may be fixed with that.

 

[gurana]

FYI, those that might be having similar problems with their stroping.

I did a little searching on some older posts here and at SRP and tried a few new things.

First of all, I don't believe my strop needed breaking in. However, as I believe I mentioned above, I put it under some old heavy text books for a night just in case.

I saw one suggestion from Lynn to "hand strop". Basically using your palm with a stropping motion. This suggestion came in the context of "warming up" your strop just prior to stroping to give better draw. Also, the oils of your hand are supposed to be good for the strop, so there's that as well. Along these same lines, I saw another suggestion to strop a beer bottle to also help break the strop in and help keep it supple. I haven't tried that yet, but seems worth noting. Other than that one post I read, I haven't seen any other suggestion to do this, so I can't say that it wouldn't destroy your strop or not.

The one thing I think helped a lot was to adjust the tension I was putting on the strop. My primary problem was cupping, especially toward the handle end of the strop. Turns out I was pulling too hard causing some warping. I let off a bit, still keeping the strop straight, and I was suddenly getting better draw and the razor now seemed to be in constant conact from toe to heel throughout the entire lenght of the strop. Unfortunately I had already shaved earlier that day, so I couldn't shave with this new stroping method, but I can say that the TPT was the best it's been since I first got the razor from vintagebladesllc.com

Hope this helps some other newbies. If any of you old hands see something wrong, please castigate me post-haste. I abhor incorrect information, especially if there's a chance someone might take it to heart and eventually hurt themselves.

 

[English]

Let me try and give a few tips.

First off, stropping a razor is probably a more important skill to learn than how to hone.

If your strop has a napp on it, the aim is to make the napp change shade as the edge passes over it. It's a bit like brushing suede. Light, dark, light, dark.

The weight of your arm is probably enough tension on a strop all by itself. The idea is not to pull the wall down. You just need enough tension to stop the strop from buckling when the blade slide accross it. You just need a gentle "weight of arm" type pull.

If you have a butter knife or a carving knife. Try stropping that to get the feel for things and see that the leather is even and flat.

It is better to start slowly and deliberately at first. The speed which is helpful but not all that important will naturally develop as you go.

You should notice that the blade runs a little more smoothly along the leather when you have stropped the roughness out of the edge. At this point you are done.

How much pressure. Well, the pressure is the weight of the spine on the leather. This pressure comes from your wrist. The weight of your arm is sufficient pressure. You then twist the blade edge to the leather using your fingers . Finger pressure. The finger presure should be just enough to make sure the edge is changing the napp.

I hope that makes some sort of sense.

 

[gurana]

Let me try and give a few tips.

First off, stropping a razor is probably a more important skill to learn than how to hone.

If your strop has a napp on it, the aim is to make the napp change shade as the edge passes over it. It's a bit like brushing suede. Light, dark, light, dark.

The weight of your arm is probably enough tension on a strop all by itself. The idea is not to pull the wall down. You just need enough tension to stop the strop from buckling when the blade slide accross it. You just need a gentle "weight of arm" type pull.

If you have a butter knife or a carving knife. Try stropping that to get the feel for things and see that the leather is even and flat.

It is better to start slowly and deliberately at first. The speed which is helpful but not all that important will naturally develop as you go.

You should notice that the blade runs a little more smoothly along the leather when you have stropped the roughness out of the edge. At this point you are done.

How much pressure. Well, the pressure is the weight of the spine on the leather. This pressure comes from your wrist. The weight of your arm is sufficient pressure. You then twist the blade edge to the leather using your fingers . Finger pressure. The finger presure should be just enough to make sure the edge is changing the napp.

I hope that makes some sort of sense.

Definitely helps. I feel I'm getting the hang of it now. Some days are better than others though. My 3" latigo doesn't seem to have a nap, but perhaps the filly I just ordered will? It was shipped yesterday from ruprazor, so maybe a week?

 

[Seraphim]

There's all kinds of shmoes out there who strop different ways. Look at this joker:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnqXSCFwdSU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[shkorc]

Nice strop and technique there Seraphim

 

[Seraphim]

Nice strop and technique there Seraphim

I'm sorry I sold off that strop now....

It was very glossy and had almost no draw at all. Which I had previoulsy strongly disliked. But lately I have been enjoying using shell horsehide like that, and that one was BEAUTIFUL....

Ah well.....

 

[gurana]

As an update, the filly and gold dollar came in via usps way earlier than I would've imagined. So far, I actually find it easier to strop with even though it is more narrow. I'll probably stick with this one for a month or so before going back to the VB 3" black latigo.

 

[richmondesi]

There's all kinds of shmoes out there who strop different ways. Look at this joker:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnqXSCFwdSU[/YOUTUBE]

Who is that joker? What a clown



I really like that vid, Craig. Nice!

 

[Seraphim]

Who is that joker? What a clown



I really like that vid, Craig. Nice!

I shot that vid in a hotel in Fukuoka, Japan. At the Hyatt Regency there. The sweet part was it had a no-fog mirror in there. Quite nice!

 

[richmondesi]

I shot that vid in a hotel in Fukuoka, Japan. At the Hyatt Regency there. The sweet part was it had a no-fog mirror in there. Quite nice!

That is nice. I didn't get to spend more than 10 days in Japan, but I liked it so much that I definitely want to go back. I'd really like to go pick up a strop, razor, and stone from there in person one day. That would be awesome!