Show & Tell Off The Stones Strops Traditional Wet Shaving With Straight Razors BIFL

Hello,
I actually had some spare time today so I thought I'd do a little show & tell video about what I do when I come off the stones. I get quite a few messages asking about what I do as in my honing & maintenance routine ,so I hope this helps paint a picture so to speak an part of it.
Cheers

[@Martins-Shaves123]

Super technique 👌and lovely kit , your diamond paddle strops are perfect! That hanging strop looks very kanayama like 👍. Fast leather and soft cotton/canvas ....I go lightly on my strops as well ,muscle memory is everything .

[@Sustainashave]

Thanks Martin, I like my little paddles, my edges have got slightly better maybe but definitely more consistent. I've never seen a Kanayama in person but I know they are known to be fast, one of my best strops finds. I really enjoy using it, another few years and it would have been too dry to save. It is fella I had someone message how can I get good at it and while I gave all the pointers I know and slight sort cuts, the only answer is practice makes perfect..

[@nonamebear1136]

Thanks for sharing. Greg Gallant talks about the side strokes on stones too. He calls it his de-burring stroke. It is a good technique for a stable edge. He has some good insight on honing as well. I enjoy your videos and look forward to them. Thank you. Cheers!

[@Sustainashave]

Thanks for the suggestion I'll check him out. Long and short of it I basically follow what is in a short book by Iwasaki, If you type in "Honing-Razors-and-Nihonkamisori-by-Kousuke-Iwasaki" you should be able to find it, if you haven't already that is. I like to keep things simple and when I first came across he's thinking I was in a way doing most of what he was saying. To me the small v strokes are a great way of winding down the laps and as you say de-burr. Thanks for commenting

[@nonamebear1136]

@@Sustainashave Sorry I misspell the last name. It is Greg Gallant. I think he referenced the same book in one of his videos. Cheers!

[@nonamebear1136]

@@Sustainashave Have you tried honing with Dalamore slate hones? I was wondering if they are a uk stone.

[@Sustainashave]

I had one years ago and the Dalamore slates come from the same company that promoted Tam O Shanter and Water Of Ayr. The tam is a good pre finisher with the Water being a excellent finisher obviously you have to find razor grade stones in those 2 types because not all Tam's or Water's will work great. It was my understanding from memory that a Dalamore sits below Tam but Ill have to refresh my memory on the subject. You can get combination stones of all the different thee stones I've mentioned.

[@nonamebear1136]

@@Sustainashave Thank you for the information, very helpful. I think I will try for a Water of Ayr if I can find one. I am trying to find some fine finishers.

[@dalestevens8322]

The sound is a bit memorizing

[@Sustainashave]

I must say I find it quite Therapeutic in some way.

[@borbelyhaz321]

Hi. Nice demo. Do you oil your razors after shaving?

[@Sustainashave]

Hey, Thanks. I don't but I do make sure I dry everything very well, I inspect them and handle them most months and I've got a jewellers rouge cloth that I give them a rub down with. I keep them in my bedroom I've never had a rust problem, could keep them anywhere in my house other than the kitchen or bathroom and I imagine they'd be ok. I always wax (It's a car polish) my razors that I've moved on before packing.