Thread: Can you strop ANYTIME?

Ah, that might make sense. Yea, God help you if your moving your wrist while stropping.

Originally Posted by topcattcw

Curious ... what do you use for hanging your strop from the doorknob? (Currently using a towel ring about shoulder height - and I know this feels too high.)

I use what I call a zip tie, some people call the cable ties. Here is more then you probably want to know about them.

I don't know about stropping ANYTIME, but I usually strop before my shower and prep so the lather doesn't completely dry out on my face. Haven't noticed any adverse effects yet.

PS - The first couple of times I stropped my arms got tired too. I think I was too worried about rolling the edge, and ruining my new Tony Miller strop!!

Too much muscle tension. You're probably doing isometrics while stropping. You didn't say how long you've been doing this. If you're fairly new to it, give it some time and when it becomes comfortable it should be almost effortless.

Stropping any time should be fine. If you don't oil the edge before putting the razor up then you should take a few passes just before shaving to knock off any minute surface rust/oxidation that may have formed.

lol on pull-ups... i dont strop after i shave i do it when im bored. but i always strop right before i shave. i generally strop 50linen 50leather. somtimes more. it just doesnt feel right to not strop right before a shave... lighten up on your arms you must be going to hard. from one fitness dude to another.

You could put some oil on the razor between stroppings if you can't get it all done in one shot. That would minimize the extra stropping that would be needed to get rid of any rust that formed between stroppings. Or you could invest in a loom strop. Or a paddle strop.

Man, thanks so much for all the input, I'm doing a LOT of what you guys are talking about:

-JimmyHAD--yeah, my strop is hanging shoulder-high, it does kinda make more sense to have it at a waist-high level.
-jsazabo--I AM gripping the strop and the razor supertight, I guess I don't want to mess up and roll the blade wrong or slacken the strop too much and make it "hang through". I'll remember to lighten up some.
-AFDavis--God NEEDS to help me, cuz I'm certainly moving my wrist some when I do the roll-over at the end of each pass. Technique, technique, right?
-Quick--Just got my razor 6 days ago, so I've only stropped 5 times, so yup, I'm a stropping newbie. Hopefully I get the technique down soon.
-DeathMetalDremel--Definitely getting the idea that I'm holding everything too hard. Tomorrow's a new day.
-crazycliff--Thanks for the oil tip, wouldn'tve thought about that.

Again, thank ALL you guys for the input, can't wait to give it a go in the morning!

Get the strop down around waist level and it's ok to roll your wrist a bit.

I should think that stropping closer to the actual shave would be better than several hours in advance, but I can't prove a thing.

If you're running out of steam stropping then I think you're using too much effort. Try lightening up and going slow. Really feel that blade on the strop.

X

As you improve in all your skills with this great hobby of ours, especially stropping, you will find you will get better shaves when the number of laps you do on your strop increases. - providing you have raised the quality of your honing strokes.

Everything to do with all the things we do, shaving, honing, stropping, ect., what works best is light, light, and light. of course, I am refering to a light touch. That's what AFDavis means when he says he can strop 60 laps and not burn 1 calorie(or just burn 1 calorie, I don't remember).

IMO, I don't believe the height you hang your strop is necessarily significant! What is significant is that you incorporate good stropping techniques: keep the strop relatively tight, and that the spine and the edge are flat at all times throughout your strokes. Yes, you can improve on this with the addition of a bit of speed, and, also, incorporate and "X" pattern to your strokes, and remember, "don't press".

You'll get it!

Regards,

Steve