Quote Originally Posted by gearhead222 View Post
Still very much a newb, but it hit me tonight after honing on my Norton 4K/8K. Stropping is more for maintenance, as basic as this sounds, correct? Again, great forum!-Gearhead
Stropping after honing ensures that any loose debris is removed. I have a little Radio Shack 100X microscope and right after honing I can see little specks of metal both on the blade and on my finger after handling the blade.

I strop both before and after the shave to make sure the edge is clean of any debris (metal, soap, water residue). Stropping after the shave also ensures that the blade is as dry as you can get it.