Thread: Stropping a Smiling Blade?

Gents,

I'm hoping to find some expert advice on the correct way to strop a smiling blade. I have a Frederick Reynold's 8/8 wedge with a smile and it has a natural tendency to want to swoop a bit on the strop, especially the material side. I understand that a "Swooping X-Stroke" should be used on the hone when sharpening, but it seems counter-intuitive to do so on the strop, as the purpose of stropping is to align the microscopic "teeth" on the edge of the blade.

I have an SRD 2" latigo hanging strop, and usually do not use X-patterns when stropping any razor, smiling or not, opting instead for a horizontal shift at the top of each stroke to make sure the edge is evenly stropped (my x-patterns tend to tilt the strop, and I'm afraid of damaging the edge). This allows me to strop straight up and down, which keeps the hanging strop straight as well.

With a smiling blade, wouldn't you still want the "teeth" to be aligned straight? Do you strop smiling blades straight up and down, or do you go with a "swooping" stroke? It's needless to say that your input is both welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

strop it like you would strop any other blade.
I always end up with a stroke that has a slight x-pattern but its just my mechanics not a preference.

As I mentioned in an earlier post on paddles v hangers, I prefer paddles for wedges as I find most need a slight roll on the stropping stroke which I find easier to do on the flat surface of a paddle.

Many vintage paddles actually have a cushion beneath the stropping material to create a bowed surface purposely, as older blades tended not to sit flat. Neil Miller told me this when he reconditioned an old paddle of mine.

I incorporate a slight roll to the stropping stroke for my wedges which need it. Otherwise some of edge gets missed, exactly the same as a hone. Loom strops and hanging strops can allow for this without the need to roll, I just prefer paddles for wedges.

I strop a smiling edge usning the normal stropping motion.
MIke