Thread: 5 shaves in! All going rather well

> I pull the strop taught with my left hand and find it much harder to do the pass coming from the wall to my hand (it doesn't seem to make the same delightful rasping noise as much.)

I think there are two reasons. One, the leather lays differently coming back than going out, so the sound will be different or even absent in one direction. Two, coming back really is just a different movement. AND, if you're not careful, you'll start trying to "correct" your back stroke in search of that sound. I know I tend to get a little nutty over-correcting my return stroke, and that's when I screw up by (say) lifting the spine at the toe and rasping the blade along the edge of the strop. It's like a golfer getting the yips on the green.

Even now after a few years, I'll occasionally pull out the butter knife and practice my stropping stroke, so I can "play" a bit without ruining an edge or a strop. It helps me get past the ridiculous over-thinking trap that I occasionally get into.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

AND, if you're not careful, you'll start trying to "correct" your back stroke in search of that sound.

Ahh, thank you, I have indeed already noticed myself doing this. I might try your butter knife technique!