Thread: Stropping feels like its going to get expensive

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Put the spine down first then start moving just before the edge contacts the strop.
Start the flip well before you reach the end of the strop & change direction as the edge begins to land. You should be able to practice that slowly without any hesitation cuts.

The worst cuts that I have were mostly from flipping the razor over. I came to a complete stop, but when I flipped the razor over, it cut into the material. I was probably moving it a bit without knowing.

I think I am going to try and practice with a butter knife like somebody suggested.

I'm relatively new at this too.

What I've learned is to use the lightest possible stroke. Let the blade glide over the surface: Don't push down at all. (The same applies to steeling a knife: let the blade "ride".) The object is not to abrade, it's to straighten a very delicate edge.

When you hit the end of the stroke, flip over using the shank of the razor, don't hold the scales at all. The fact that the scales move can make the flip erratic.

If you're cutting the strop, you are probably hesitating just a little on the flip. It should be a smooth action. Do it first in slow motion, and gradually increase the speed. Like all physical motions, you need to let your body learn the motion, not use your mind to control the details. Try for smooth action, almost as if your mind drifts.

Good luck!

Taking it slowly is the best advice. Practicing with a butter knife may work but it's not exactly a razor. You might consider picking up a very cheap blade such as one of the Pakistan razors for $4.00 or $5.00 on eBay and then dull the hell out of it with sandpaper. You might even put electrical tape on the edge and practice with that. As for the nicks in the strop, I've had some luck with contact cement. Just be careful to get it only on the areas you want to stick together. Good luck.

I had the same experience with learning to strop and reading this thread it sounds universal. I think it's just one of those things that comes with practice. After about a month and several nicks in the strop I had it down. I sanded the nicks down and oiled the strop with olive oil. It's not as good as new but it works.

No Worries

Mine has some nice in it as well and I did get better, and still getting. I have not fixed mine yet, no money to get the stuff needed, so I am using only the good part which is fortunately most of it.

I was making my cuts when turning it over to strop the other side and a few time I actually turned it the wrong way and sliced right into the leather, it looked bad. The razor still shaves with no problem but I am sure I will have to get it honed sooner becasue of this.

Things happen and we learn, it gets better.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Put the spine down first then start moving just before the edge contacts the strop.
Start the flip well before you reach the end of the strop & change direction as the edge begins to land. You should be able to practice that slowly without any hesitation cuts.

Took the words right out of my mouth mate.
Start moving then lay the edge down, lift the edge up before finishing moving. Cant go wrong.

What a brilliant idea

funklab,

In my case, two (2) strops

I have still have (and use) my first named 'ScarFace'.

If the reverse side of your strop is usable, I would suggest trying that for the practice. If the reverse is a little rough, you can smooth it with some good quality silicon carbide paper (320/400/600 grit), though it has to be good quality as you don't want any grits embedding themselves in the
leather !!

You can also use the 600 grit carbide paper to smooth out some of the existing nicks on your strop.

This video has been the most use to me for stropping instruction, and is by our very own hi_bud_gl (Sham)

YouTube - straight razor stropping