Thread: Pressure on edge while stroping?

I strop with very light pressure evenly distributed along the razor's length. Visualize a razor moving back and forth by itself with only it's own weight as evenly applied pressure. I hold the strop taught, but do not pull tension on the strop. I use my fingers to flip and impart back and forth motion, but try to hold the razor loosely enough so it distributes it's weight evenly along and across the blade.

After starting to strop this way, I noticed my edges getting sharper and lasting longer before needing refreshing. I also stopped getting occasional micro nicks on my strop edge.

I also wipe my strop with a clean cloth to clean off any dust or grit and lightly hand wipe to condition the leather. I rarely wipe with a slightly damp cloth to remove deposits that may be building up on the surface.

Keeping the length of the stroke short and the rhythm not too fast but smooth helps.

Stropping is key because it must be done well after each shave or we are trying to shave with a dull razor. It brings a shave ready edge back to shave readiness after each shave.

HTH