Thread: Pressure on edge while stroping?

I have seen about a ton of stropping videos. I have the finger flick action down and I'm feeling pretty good about things. How much pressure are you guys applying on your razors on the strop? How tight are you pulling the strop? Probably my most important question follows... When your blade is in motion, spine first on the strop, do you try to hold it flat? Or, do you apply some pressure on the edge (but holding the blade mostly flat) by allowing a bit of tilt on yours fingers hold toward the edge?
Thanks!

These questions seem to come up about 3 times a week. Type "stropping a razor" in the search box in the upper right hand corner of your screen. About 3 weeks of reading on this subject will appear.

Well, that's kind of the trouble. Too much potentially conflicting information. For example: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ressure-2.html

And that is what is about to happen here. Update your profile with your location. Maybe there is a mentor around. Stropping seems to be something that many get right with wide variations in strop tension, pressure and torque on the blade. About the only thing that seems to be agreed on is the "flip."

Go with the flow.

Remember some folks seem to do everything wrong or against the general advice and yet they get the result they want. However that doesn't mean it's the right way for you. Learn to do it without pressure and when you become proficient then you can go off on your own and experiment.

...and as a hint for sorting through all the info, you'll see posts by people who have 1000's of posts and some by those with very few. As a general rule, I focus on the posts of those that have the most experience.

However, the learning curve really can't be shortened, so reading (and watching videos from SRP or buying and watching Lynn's DVD for $20) is one of the shortcuts, such as it is. There are years of discussions linked to the "Google custom search" box at the top right of this page.

Keep at it!

If you are finger-flipping the blade while stropping, then pressure will naturally be minimal. Also, if you keep the strop fairly taut, with perhaps an inch of difference between the ends and the middle while stropping, it is hard to go wrong. For me, the really helpful part was learning to initiate the flip BEFORE the end of the stroke and start back as the flip is being completed. I never try to strop quickly, but even at my slow pace, 100 laps takes only about three minutes. I have time for that given the results I can get from it.

Here's a good start: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ght=Stroptober

Many good videos here.

Many welcomes, Chris. Welcome to SRP! Read the library as well.

Enjoy the journey.

Things not to do :

Apply too much pressure anywhere.
Let your anchor hand move around. ( I usually keep my elbow against my ribs. The strop won't move unless I do. )
Lift the razor off the strop as in the 2nd video you linked to from AoM.

Its like a golf swing. You cant force it. Pull it taunt, but not like your pulling a kid out of fridged waters. Lead with the spine, Let the cutting edge go along for the ride.Its not complicated if you dont make it so.Find the audio of how it sounds to strop. Hear it with your eyes closed. Fact your going to be slower in the beginning.SPEED KILLS. Feel the strop close your eyes and get the sound & tactile feedback. Make shorter strokes.You cant push the blade into the leather to make it sharper. Do you hone? Same pressure as on final hone. Humble opionion .I did it all the wrong way. These thoughts or mental images and neatsfeet oil on a New Strop broke it in.You dont redline a brand new car and not expect engine damage.right??? Same principle. To quote Caddyshack "Billy feel the ball."You will be fine.