Thread: Stropping question

I'm a bit confused on how to properly strop my razors. In the various threads and posted manuals, some seem to say strop with an x-pattern, some straight up and down and some with the razor simply angled.

There may be no "right" way, but can some of you address the pros and cons of these methods? Is one way better to learn with? Thanks

Jordan

The X pattern and the angled pattern where the entire blade stays on the strop at the same time are both fine. The main thing is to go slow and keep the blade perfectly flat during the stroke with virtually no pressure. Try to keep the strop taught, but not taught enough to pull the hook out of whatever it is attached to.

Lynn

Jordan,

Remember, Lynn said go slow. Speed means nothing
when stropping your razor. As time goes on though
you will get faster.


Terry

Some strops aren't wide enough for the entire blade so stropping in an X ensures that the entire blade gets stropped. If you've got a 3" strop then a straight pattern is fine. My hanging strop is about 2 1/2 inches wide, and my travel strop is about 2 inches wide both require an X pattern.

I don't strop with X pattern. I do go diagonaly, flip, and return the razor on the same path...

Nenad

Originally Posted by adjustme69

The X pattern and the angled pattern where the entire blade stays on the strop at the same time are both fine. The main thing is to go slow and keep the blade perfectly flat during the stroke with virtually no pressure. Try to keep the strop taught, but not taught enough to pull the hook out of whatever it is attached to.

Lynn

I always meant to ask you, Lynn, when you strop your duck in the video, the strop is hanging through noticably. Is that what you refer to as 'not too taught' ?

Redwoood

Thanks for the info guys.

I've been doing the diagnal/angled pattern with the whole blade staying on the strop so I'll stick with that.

I try to keep it slow, even so - a couple of times I've watched in utter disbelief as I've allowed the spine to slowly come off the strop.

I'll just keep practicing.


Jordan

I started with the razor being held at an angle on the strop so the whole blade was in contact through the entire motion. Since then I've moved to the X-pattern and haven't looked back. There's lots of right ways to do it, find the one you're comfortable with and have at it. Keep your speed slow, the pressure light and your actions deliberate. Pay close attention to what you're doing, the sounds, the feel.

I find I get more of a drag when I strop on the angle. I've been told that's a good thing (can't remember who by). I'm not sure whether the drag on the angle is more because I honed on the angle or not.

I get best control with the X pattern. I tried the diagonal, but found it a little clumsy for me. What I do with the X stropping is not a very drastic stroke. I keep as much of the blade as possible on the hone at all times going from the tip only off the far end of strop to the heel only just off the near edge at the end. That's what I like.

X