what speed passes on the strop?

[wysper]

Hi All

Just asking some questions before I even begin. But when stropping your razor on the leather, how quickly do you move the razor?
Or what I actually want to know, is how slow would too slow be?

I am thinking if I start out moving the razor slowly I am less likely to damage the strop or the edge on the razor, would I be correct?

But I was also thinking, if I went too slowly I wouldn't achieve anything with my stropping.

Or am I over thinking it?

Thanks

 

[Chaloney]

You are thinking about it just about right. Go slowly at first. You might even be better off getting a full page of newspaper, folding it until you have a long 3 inch strip. Put that over a towel bar, hold the two ends together and pull tight. Strop on that until you have the movement down. Even going slowly you are likely to nick your strop, I know I did. The newspaper strop is effective and completely expendable.

 

[wysper]

Thanks Chaloney. I might just try that for starters.

 

[Lmarkow]

I think we all start pretty slow. Then start going too fast too soon, as confidence builds. Then we post in the strops sub-forum about nicks.

 

[BDF]

And then we learn about CA glue, rubber cement, contact cement, sanding leather, treating leather and finding the best prices on buying strops in bulk.

Brian

I think we all start pretty slow. Then start going too fast too soon, as confidence builds. Then we post in the strops sub-forum about nicks.

 

[temjeito]

I think we all start pretty slow. Then start going too fast too soon, as confidence builds. Then we post in the strops sub-forum about nicks.

And then we learn about CA glue, rubber cement, contact cement, sanding leather, treating leather and finding the best prices on buying strops in bulk.

 

[Brianskeet]

Control is more important than speed. Take your time. Speed will come with experience. If you push for speed instead of control you will only nick more leather.

 

[Kentos]

My theory is at least a 1 second up and down speed is needed for best results. Many wiser and longtime shavers say speed is irrelevant, only the lap count. Either way slow and steady is good for starters, and as muscle memory kicks in the speed will increase on its own.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Speed is not really important. Possibly a very brisk stroke could give you more heat which might be a good thing but I never noticed much difference between slow or fast stropping in the edge. Do it like you feel it.

 

[Gamma]

Personally, I don't buy into the 'heating/warming the blade' theory at all.

Better to be slower and more comfortable and in control.

 

[egarmo]

Most important than actual speed is that you must get to a full stop before turning the blade, in order to avoid forcing it. If you are stropping too fast, probably you may be tempted to swing on the blade to reverse the pass. Thats not what you must do. Also pressure must be light and possibly fast strokes make you press. In other sense, actual speed does not count and the generation of heat.. well you may be quite tired before it happens.....

 

[Acmemfg]

Most important than actual speed is that you must get to a full stop before turning the blade, in order to avoid forcing it. If you are stropping too fast, probably you may be tempted to swing on the blade to reverse the pass. Thats not what you must do. Also pressure must be light and possibly fast strokes make you press. In other sense, actual speed does not count and the generation of heat.. well you may be quite tired before it happens.....

^^^
What he said. Rekindling my stropping skills after quite a few years, I picked up a 3" Star strop just knowing I would ding it up some. Indeed there are a couple tiny nicks on the right side from where I indeed did flip the blade too quickly. Good thing is like all tasks requiring finer motor skills, they are so often deeply rooted and return to good form quickly with practice. After a couple weeks of riding the learning curve, I got the drill down correctly once more and rewarded myself with a new TM strop. I'm gonna keep the Star as for the money it ain't a shabby bit of work and will make a good strop for travel, back up, and the like.

 

[Slash McCoy]

You can swap ends with the leather on that Big Daddy strop. Then the nicks will be on the left hand edge.