Thread: x pattern stropping

Good question. I experimented with cowhide and horsehide strops in 1 5/8", 2", 2 1/2" and three inch. I stropped a wedge and a extra hollow ground singing blade. I used an X pattern on all strops with each razor and after every ten laps, I checked the blade under the microscope. In a nut shell, my results showed a much more efficient stropping with the 2" and 2 1/2" strops. The 3" actually took more strokes to get the same effect. The 1 5/8" strop performed better then the 3". Horsehide also showed quicker results then cowhide. I did try smooth finish and suede finish. I found the suede to be much more efficient on both horse and cowhide. I did not experiment with latigo or an oil/wax application. The X pattern showed a marked improvement over straight line stropping. I did find that starting with a straight stropping pattern then finishing with approximately 10-15 strokes of X pattern was almost as efficient with a X pattern only. For me, it turned out to be most time advantageous to use a 2 1/2" suede finish horsehide strop and start with a straight stropping pattern for 40 laps then finish with 10 X pattern. I surmise using the straight pattern warmed up the razor and strop to the a temperature that gave the X pattern the benefit.

I am contemplating repeating this experiment with a no touch laser thermometer. I suspect that friction plays a more important role in stropping then I previously believed.

One side note. I took an old oil/wax treated strop and put a suede finish. It gave it a very heavy draw but very efficient draw. For me it is an uncomfortably heavy draw resulting in having to hold the razor very tight. A razor with less then very tight pins causes me to hold the razor differently then I normally do.

To boil it down. I had even stropping/sharpening effect quickest with the X pattern.