Thread: Stropping issue

Let's assume the razor blade isn't warped, and the strop isn't cupped (that is, it's not lower or higher in the middle, than it is at the edges).

Take a look at this Wki article:

Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

When somebody says "there shouldn't be any pressure on the edge during stropping", he's exaggerating for pedagogical effect. There has to be _some_ pressure -- otherwise, the leather won't affect the steel!

The Wiki article makes the proper technique pretty clear:

. . . There should be enough pressure to make the strop bend, noticeably,
. . . around the spine of the razor;

. . . There should be _only a little_ pressure on the edge -- not enough to
. . . make the strop bend noticeably around the edge.

I'm used to stropping a Dovo on a hanging leather strop, using X-strokes. Never had any trouble with destroyed edges, and I always thought I was using very light pressure on the edge.

I once tried laying the strop on a table, and stropped with my normal pressure. I was watching the very edge of the blade as it crossed from air to strop, during the X-stroke.

Surprise -- the edge of the razor deformed, noticeably, just where it was going over the edge of the strop.

I guess what I'm saying is:

.; . . It is possible to use _too little_ pressure on the edge.

If it's not touching the strop, and the razor isn't warped, and the strop isn't cupped, try using a _little_ more pressure than you're using now.

DO NOT lift the spine !!!!!! DO NOT make the strop bend noticeably around the edge. That leads to destroyed edges.

Charles

PS -- I will yield to more experienced members who disagree.