Thread: Rolling Hone/Rolling Strop?

I was reading a thread on honing this morning (in newbies corner). Superfly posted a link to another thread from last year discussing blade geometries, X patterns, and the rolling hone technique - an excellent read.

However, it got me thinking (uh oh...). If you've honed using a rolling stroke because of the geometry of your blade, say, what happens at the stropping stage? I know the rolling hone stroke is subtle, so does the natural flex of a hanging strop accommodate the heel and tip of a blade? What about a paddle strop?

James.

I'll bet that thread from Superfly was in regards to my "curvature" question. Wasn't that a great post? Anyway, I believe you are going where I'm already at. I've got a fraying thing going on with my linen and leather strops. It's along the right edge, and yes, I'm right handed. I believe it's rolling on me as I'm stropping. I haven't done anything to my razors yet, but I wonder at what point I'll damage both strops. More importantly, what's going on, and how can I fix it?

Originally Posted by Jimbo

... does the natural flex of a hanging strop accommodate the heel and tip of a blade?

Yup. That forgiving nature is why they're easier to use.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

... What about a paddle strop? ...

That's where you've gotta be more careful.

X

X,

I've wondered this same thing. When I strop slowly it doesn't appear to me that the heel and toe of smiling blades make contact with the leather. Maybe I'm holding my strop too tight...

Do you strop in an X pattern?

Josh

If you did use an X pattern when stropping, or even a C pattern, maybe the action and the pressure of the wrist keeps the heel and tip on the strop?

I guess that's part of what I was asking - is there a conscious or subconscious rolling strop motion when the blade geometry warrants it? If you're focussing on keeping the spine on the strop through the range of motion, and listening for the tell-tale noise of the correct stroke, and feeling for the draw, are you automatically adjusting at the heel and tip?

James.

I think that when you strop on a hanging strop there is a natural tendancy (on my part at least) to start at the handle end with slightly more bias to the heal then as I proceed the bias graduates to the toe. A strop has a tendancy to help this by being more taught at opposite sides on either end I find or should i say more willing to take the slight pressure at these points. I strop up hill and heal leading and slap at the start of the next stroke so this may be due to this. On the finishing strokes I slow up and flick the razor less so less/no slap along with a progresive shorter stroke. I have never had a problem with stropping a smiling razor with this approach. This would suggest to me that I naturally roll the razor while stropping though I do strop some of my razors that seem to prefer it with a square across the strop technique but I tend to stand behind the strop also for these razors (flat/straight edge) against my normal angle of 30 degrees to the strop.
OMG, don't I just witter on

PuFF

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Do you strop in an X pattern?

Yes I do and I ensure that the heel and toe make good contact with the strop at the beginning and end of each stroke respectively.

X

This is a diagram of how I strop. Forgive my poor attempt at drawing.

This is essentially the same as the X pattern, at least in effect.


Scott



Attachment 1969

Originally Posted by honedright

This is a diagram of how I strop. Forgive my poor attempt at drawing.

This is essentially the same as the X pattern, at least in effect.


Scott

...

Sorry Scott, I'm a bit confused - is that showing a "C" motion?

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Sorry Scott, I'm a bit confused - is that showing a "C" motion?

James.

James,

Yes, I suppose "C" motion is acurate. The lines with the arrows indicate the direction of movement. Starting from the outter center of the strop, moving diagonally to the inner ends of the strop. Speeded up, and with practiced flow, it appears you are making an arcing, or "C" shaped movement.


Scott