as far as I know, you create a burr both in both directions on a stone. in my mind as soon as you abrade a side of a chunk of steel at the same angle until it meets the other side you get a burr, no matter which direction you go. the only difference is how heavy or light the burr is and at what grit.

the trailing strokes are more to even out whatever grit you finish taking the bevels to and "max" that stone out. the shaping and polishing strokes can be back and forth, circles, angles, write the alphabet with the blade, whatever.

I spent days in the shop trying to figure out the whole "how do you get both edge bevels to meet without creating a burr", then, when you do succeed, the very next stone in whatever grit succession will push the edge past meeting and create a burr. trying to guess at what level you must stop on each stone to prevent a burr which is easily delt with at the end, drove me bonkers.


now I can hone a razor either with what I showed in the video, or with the traditional way. but the way I showed is the fastest and most fool proof method I have seen. instead of fearing a simple burr, use it to tell you when you are done with each step, and then remove it, and get on with shaving and life.


now that I think of it, I don't think ive ever cleaned my strop so I guess I better do that pretty soon, thanks :}