Thread: Maybe heresy, maybe just old news - finishing w/ stropping strokes

It must be the case that this has been explored, if not beat to death, but I started experimenting w/ stropping stroke finishes a few wks back. This started from using a method described for a BBW, which has produced consistently sharp (if a bit harsh) edges.
http://coticule.be/heritage.html?fil.../BBW-study.pdf
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So I thought I'd try finishing strokes on the other side of the stone in my hand. Hmmm. Nice edge.
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Then on a jnat (alot more strokes). Wow, nice edge.
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Then a thuri. another nice edge.

14 blades done this way, and I like the edges alot. If there's any boogie man named 'wire edge', he's yet to show up.

I post this, 'cause it seems inevitable that others have tried this and perhaps I can learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of the technique. I have overhoned one edge this way - didn't last through the whole shave, but just that one. Fewer strokes would seem the solution. If you've had experience w/ this technique, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks in advance, Gents.

Well I don't tend to finish with a reverse stroke but I incorporate them throughout the honing process. You technically incorporate some level of reverse stroke when you do circles too. I've got no doubt you don't see too many wire edges this way, as the reverse stroke has traditionally been used as a way to remove a wire edge if it is present. I'd say the overhoning was probably not created by the reverse finishing strokes.

I think if it is working for you that is great. I suppose if you think about it technically what you've got there is a hard and inflexible version of a pasted leather strop. So I say go for your life. In the end it comes down to an edge and a face. If they meld it doesn't matter how you get there.

James.

About 30-40 years ago I knew a barber who did his last 2 laps on his finish hone with edge trailing, just like he stropped. I asked why and he said he was taught that method by another barber.

His razors were always very sharp.

Originally Posted by Sticky

About 30-40 years ago I knew a barber who did his last 2 laps on his finish hone with edge trailing, just like he stropped. I asked why and he said he was taught that method by another barber.

His razors were always very sharp.

Even on the coticules, with which I've had a harder time getting the sharpness, the edge-trailing stroke seems to give it all I could ask for. HHT went from performing at 1/2" from point of hold to 3/4". One of the edges, as mentioned, didn't last the whole shave, so it appears the elusive 'over honing' was found. 'Tried another Swedish blade earlier today with that technique on a very fast (on water) LPB coticule. The smoothness was heavenly & the sharpness was all you could ask for. 'Don't know why. It seems to be less sensitive to an imperfect stroke also. It continues to surprise me.

I learned that method for finishing knives originally. Just a few no pressure strokes in a lapping motion no more than 8 or 10 seemed to pull out the edge noticeably. It feels like I can get better bevel contact to the stone using a stropping motion with no pressure when I do razors but I am still less than 100 pieces honed so while it gives me a good end result it is likely with more time and experience there will be no advantage. With a really fine finishing stone I believe I can feel the steel settling to the stone as the edge comes to finish. It is similar to the adhesion of the rubber to a well lapped stone like they are just being sucked together.

It is probably all in my head but the result is very comfortable shaving edges. MMHV

I found the technique inconsistent. Ive found a few cool techniques that only worked intermittently.

I did quite a bit of experimentation after I came up with that 3-2-1 finish on the Shapton 30k which I tried in the first place because Don was using stropping strokes to finish on his... After that I pretty much tried it on everything and every stone I had...

Always searching for a bit more

I ended up moving back to edge forward strokes mostly as Alan pointed out because of consistency, I found that spine leading works best on very fine very straight edges IME

I personally mostly do edge trailing strokes and have problem with wire edges once in a while.
I don't know why but it seems to happen more with 7/8 or 8/8 than a 4/8 or 5/8.
I just use light pressured bread knifing strokes on a felt block and knocks most of the burrs off without doing any harm.

On some harder steels like carbonsongs, I just find it harder to knock off the edge once they form.
I will sometimes restart from 5k with edge forward strokes on those, if I get frustrated enough.

Not that anyone is asking but another technique that produces inconsistent, but sometimes fantastic results, is aligning the blade heel forward and doing about 10-15 strokes on one side only, then flipping the blade and doing an equal number on the other side. This maintains this exact angle until you flip. Later, I discovered that by improving my angle discipline the technique lost it's power.

Although no one likes to admit it, most variances in technique, that produce sudden results, do so because of a large fundamental flaw in skill. There are some very obvious honing technique flaws in which spine leading strokes are the remedy. It can be just as beneficial to remove the flaws.

There is a good reason that barber's thought it took 10 years to learn how to hone.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

There are some very obvious honing technique flaws in which spine leading strokes are the remedy. It can be just as beneficial to remove the flaws.
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Can you elaborate? If I can identify my flaws I can work to mitigate them.