Thread: Honing the Back

Now that I've got your attention

I'm always trying to think of better ways to teach stropping to new users. One disadvantage here (SRP and other online forums) is that we are trying to describe via words what should ideally be shown, and then practiced, under the direct supervision/ guidance of an experienced user.

So a simple concept occured to me that may help some new users with their stropping. And I don't recall anyone else ever mentioning this, so I hope it is a new and helpful idea. It's simply this:

Instead of concentrating on trying to strop the razors edge, try to concentrate on "honing" the razors back, or spine, while stropping. Hopefully that makes sense and is easily visualized.

By doing this you are more likely to keep the back of the razor flat on the strop. If the back is flat, the edge should follow suit. Also, more pressure will be focused on the back and less on the edge. This should make it easier to control the pressure exerted on the edge.

I suspect that many new guys focus too much on the edge and that could be the reason for rolling and/or dulling the edge while stropping.

Just focus on the back of the razor as though you were honing it (back leading). Allow the edge to trail behind. You are essentially stropping the same as before, just thinking and approaching it differently. And thus this may give different, and possibly more productive, results.

Good luck,

Scott

Another thought: If you follow this concept, you may find it helps when you actually are honing your razor edge. Since honing and stropping are essentially the reverse of each other, the above actually gives you practice at honing. A two-fer.

Scott,

That's such a clear description that even I can visualize it.

Good analogy Scott. I never thought of stropping in those terms, but I think that's a good statement.

Phil

Great idea Scott!

Thanks - this is really a good way to visualise how to do the job. I just tried it any I'm sure my edge looks a little smoother than usual under the loup.

One thing that I've been wondering lately is why don't we hone spine first too?

Originally Posted by rupert87

One thing that I've been wondering lately is why don't we hone spine first too?

Sometimes we do. It's called "back honing". Often back honing is used when the edge has been over-honed, and/or to remove a wire edge. Not everyone agrees on back honing a razor.

Scott

Great word picture Scott. The first real breakthrough I had in stropping was when I did that. Among other things, it steadies the edge as it travels the strop. The blade rests on the spine on the strop, while the edge glides behind more steadily and evenly. By putting the main pressure on the spine, the secondary pressure on the edge is more controllable. Less prone to bouncing too hard or too lightly on the strop.

Once again, you are da stropping man!

- Dale

Originally Posted by honedright

By doing this you are more likely to keep the back of the razor flat on the strop.

This is actually what prompted me to apply this approach. I wasn't keeping the razor flat. Very early on I was consistently not getting the tip of the razor as sharp as the rest. So I very consciously held the tip firmly against the strop to make sure I was stropping the tip. In order to keep it firmly planted, but not put too much pressure on the edge, I focused the pressure on the back of the tip. I discovered what you have said, that I got better control, etc. Since then, I take the approach of planting the back on the strop, with secondary pressure on the edge. With my straight backed razors, that means the whole back, while my sway-backed ones get a little different ride, though still using the back as the primary pressure point.

- Dale

Thanks for the tip!

Very good word picture! Thanks for the post!