Thread: Stropping a curved edge?

I just shaved the first time with a shave ready blade, which has a curved edge. I need to strop it for the next shave, but wasn't sure how to strop that type of edge (my other blades are straight).

Do I do an x pattern, or rolling x pattern, like I've read for honing?

With the rolling x pattern, am I actually lifting the spine off of the strop, or is it a matter of focusing the (light) pressure on the heel, mid, and then toe of the blade, as I strop?

Thanks in advance!

PCM

Not sure if there is a difference in stropping , but I use an X stroke on mine , I have a few smiling blades. In rotation and it seems to be fine,, someone who knows more will be along , but I go a long time between honing with stropping this way. Tc

I just do a regular X stroke too. There seems to be enough flex in a strop to account for he smile.

The standard x stroke will do it no problem. As there is an amount of give to the strop it will make contact

Thanks guys! I wasn't sure, if I needed to do something different. Glad to know that I can used the same action for all the blades.

Just remember to keep the pressure of the blade on the strop to a minimum. Too much pressure doing an X stroke will cause the blade to run off the strop and marks in the leather.

Either an X or a windscreen wiper type of stroke will work.

Seems to me that most smiling blades are designed to sit flat on the hone/strop anyway so there shouldn't be any difference. You could just sit the blade flat on the strop and see where the edge contacts the surface of the strop. My guess is that the edge will sit flat, but regardless that will give you an idea of how to adjust the stroke to even out the contact.

As was mentioned a light touch is imperative to not rolling the edge.

It seems like most of the edge is touching, except for maybe a 1/4-1/2" at toe and heel. I've got a bench and hanging strop, but have been using the bench strop lately, as it takes out some of the variables, while I'm learn to strop (been doing this a bit over a month).

The wedge certainly feels different stropping (and shaving). I'm trying to use a light touch.