Have a question about proper strop pressure on a leather strop with hollow ground blades... I'm using a 3" wide red latigo strop that also has a canvas strop attached.

When stropping, I take care to always rotate on the spine. I try to get the spine moving before rotating the edge to make contact with the strop, so the edge doesn't slap the strop (not always successful).

I can tell pretty well when the edge meets the strop... when only the spine is in contact the razor slides along with little resistance and there is very little noise. When the edge makes contact, friction increases and there is a sort of leathery sliding sound. If I use just a tiny tiny bit more rotational pressure, friction increases slightly and there is a higher pitched raspy/singing noise. I'm definitely not putting any sort of excessive force on the blade portion (certainly not digging the blade in), and I'd say most of the pressure (little as it is) is on the spine...

I've noticed the antique wedge I have does not exhibit these traits... it is not nearly so sensitive to the slight increase in rotational pressure...

My question is, should I be stropping just so the edge is barely making contact, or is it okay/better to put the slightly greater amount of pressure on the blade? Just trying to find the "sweet spot"!

Thanks!

- HJ