Originally Posted by
thebigspendur
Tact? who needs tact around here, just speak your mind!
Its not the technique that is doing most of the the job its the media you are using. Of course technique is important in honing and stropping but as far as the sharpening goes the media is doing the work there. Backhoning on a hone is used only to break off a wire edge. If you do it to any extent you will actually undo the honing you accomplished and wind up with a duller razor. With a strop your using leather with media of one kind or another on it and its that media in combination with the leather that is doing the work plus if you strop with a forward motion you will cut the strop up.
If you want any more detailed an explanation maybe Lynn or Tony or one of the honemeisters can explain it some more. I can't. However if you don't believe me get yourself a well honed razor and backhone on a 8K or coticule for 50 or so strokes and then see how sharp it is.