Thread: Question Regarding X Motion

I'm new to this as the question will reflect but if lets say a strop paddle or belt is able to accommodate the whole edge of a razor can one just straight up and down if none of the razor is hanging over or do you still need to use a X motion and why?

I'm a newb myself, but I've heard/read/been told that the 'X' stroke isn't done solely because the strop may be narrower than the length of the razor's blade. Here are some of it's other reporter benefits:

• It evens out the effect of stropping when the strop isn't flat (i.e., cupped)
• It evens out the pressure you may be applying across the entire blade
• The diagonal motion is more efficient at aligning the edge
• It's good to have the muscle memory in place for times when you may be forced use a narrow strop
• "It's the correct way to strop"

I don't know if there's any legitimacy to any these points, but I use an 'X' stroke regardless of my strop's width.

Agree with Dzanda I have a 3" strop & still use a form of heal leading X stroke & most of my blades fit with in the 3" width

The shortest explanation is yes, use an X stroke because it helps to make sure the whole edge gets stropped evenly. To expound on that thought, it corrects for imperfect position of the spine and edge, in which you put more pressure on one end of the blade than the other. Dzanda is correct in his further points also.

when you strop your hand naturally will perform an x motion. Not as pronounced as a deliberate X, but there.
The x helps getting all of the edge to strop, and is especially useful when the strop is not perfect flat.

My "X" stroke tends to be more of an extremely lengthened "Figure 8" on my 2 1/2 inch strops.

Just make sure your technique is proper. I have not noticed any difference in stropping with an X stroke. For that reason I use a 3" strop.

There was a thread a while ago now that posed the hypothesis that an X stroke on the strop matches more closely the angle of the striations left after honing.

When I think about how I hone, I definitely put an angle on the scratches - maybe in the area of 45 degrees but cannot say for sure.

I'm not sure the thread ever got to the bottom of the issue (I seem to recall that I thought the x pattern angle on the strop would be the exact opposite of the scratch pattern angle unless you stropped with the heel behind the toe), but that could be another "reason" why x pattern stropping seems more efficient.

However, when starting out just concentrate on keep the blade flat, using light pressure, and perfecting that flip. If the x pattern is part of your natural stroke (and it is for a lot of us) then go with it. But don't force it until you feel comfortable with the basic movement.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

There was a thread a while ago now that posed the hypothesis that an X stroke on the strop matches more closely the angle of the striations left after honing.

When I think about how I hone, I definitely put an angle on the scratches - maybe in the area of 45 degrees but cannot say for sure.

I'm not sure the thread ever got to the bottom of the issue (I seem to recall that I thought the x pattern angle on the strop would be the exact opposite of the scratch pattern angle unless you stropped with the heel behind the toe), but that could be another "reason" why x pattern stropping seems more efficient.

However, when starting out just concentrate on keep the blade flat, using light pressure, and perfecting that flip. If the x pattern is part of your natural stroke (and it is for a lot of us) then go with it. But don't force it until you feel comfortable with the basic movement.

James.

Big thanks on this one. I saw Lynn today explaining how he converted to a 3 inch strop. He mentioned not having to worry so much on the X stroke. Honestly the X stroke was giving me a bit of anxiety, but now that I'm just starting to practice my flip and motion this really helps not having to worry about the X stroke. Im glad I bumped into this fourm

I think the only Reason to use a slight X stroke is that a hanging strop Is maliable,it flexes and being made from a natural material it may not be perfectally Flat even tho it looks like it,an X stroke will cover the entire edge,thats the goal.