Thread: Stropping with x pattern

I am using a 2" strop. When practicing I start a stroke with the spine leading and toe first. When I get to the end of the strop, the toe is off the leather and the heel is touching. To finish the stroke, I roll the razor on the spine and slide to the handle end starting with heel touching and then toe at the end. To me this is more like half an x pattern. Am I doing it right? Or do I need more of a reverse honing motion?

Thanks,
Seth

The spine is toward the direction of the stroke on both strokes. The heel should be leading in both the away and return stroke. The toe will always be last off the strop. I almost always have the razor clear the strop at the end of each stroke. I then re-set the spine down first on the leather before the return stroke. Go slow. I hope this helps.

Monte

I'm the same as Monte, but I don't even really lift the spine at all, just flip te razor at the end of the stroke.

X

Originally Posted by xman

I'm the same as Monte, but I don't even really lift the spine at all, just flip te razor at the end of the stroke.

X

+1 Don't lift the spine and it's good to lift the edge and begin the flip BEFORE stopping the motion (I try to keep from actually stopping the motion with the edge on the leather). Good Luck!

I use a mild X-pattern even on a 3" stop, starting with
the whole razor on the strop, and ending with about
half of the blade on the toe end on the strop (maybe
more). This is true of both towards and away passes.

When rolling on the spine and doing this X-pattern, the
razor seems to have a nice smooth flowing figure-8
pattern.

- Scott

Thanks Guys! Thought my technique was off. I appreciate the help.