Quote Originally Posted by diyguy View Post
but I seem to have found the perfect balance.
You nailed it!

Thanks for a great post!

I have done my share of testing on this as well.
To be honest, stropping was what took the longest for me to be able to take to an acceptable level.
A lot of experimenting was needed for me to be able to strop in a way I was content with.

I fully understand the advice given on this site about little to none pressure and all that, I have been giving it myself.
Having seen what too much of it can do to an edge, it's a sound advice. The thing is, there is, in my stropping, a slight bit of pressure, but telling that to a new one at this will often kill the edge due to too much of a good thing.

It's hard to explain, in text, what the proper correlation between tautness and pressure should be.
I finally found the correct amount of pressure when stropping with a big mirror by my side. I learned that I was actually using too much pressure, although I could have sworn I was using only the weight of the razor.

I think I must have spent at least 6 months of practicing before my stropping was adequate, even longer to make it good.

A meeting like the one you describe, is really a very good thing.
All that are new to this should really attend one or two gatherings if at all possible, it sure is shortening the learning curve, to be able to see this first hand!

Anyways, just my $0.02.