Thread: Unhappy - What am i doing wrong i cant get my edge sharp enough!!!...

Originally Posted by Kees

@OP: are you sure you keep the strop taut, do not apply too much pressure on the strop and have the entire blade flat on linen and leather? If not you destroy the edge the stones put on.

This is my concern, first, although an excellent honing, fresh of the stone is pretty fragile in general too. This is part of why linen isn't recommended in barber's manuals after honing. It's the beginner that I'm mostly concerned with. The linen is the only step in this posters progression that stood out.

The other problem I worry about is that a lot of people use the word " linen " and then when I see the material it's not really linen it's some form of rough canvas. Strops used for roughing are better saved for after the edge has settled a bit (my opinion).

I'm on an IPad now so sometimes I forget to make it clear that the advice I give out only applies to the thread Im on and only to the OP. Linen, by itself and used correctly has a useful purpose.