Quote Originally Posted by Razorfeld View Post
If you are using much downward pressure on the razor as you strop you are doing a disservice to the razor's edge. Under normal circumstances your stropping motion should be should be light as a feather with the edge, while the spine is in constant contact with the strop, acting like a plane taking off and landing. You should hear almost nothing from the strop as you lap. Linen, or felt, or web material first, followed by leather by 'x' number of laps (it will vary based on feel for the strop, emotional state and level of OCD). Crox and diamond spray refreshing is usually after 15 or so shaves and to the barber's hone or 12k or higher stone after maybe 30 shaves. That is, if you have a "normal" beard. More or less depending on beard density, etc.
I believe 100% any issue with my stropping has to do with pressure and technique. It takes time to develop the ability to strop with very light pressure. I can feel the lightness improving but I still have a ways to go. When I have the technique down better I'm hoping to get the results others talk about. I understand that honing razors is not the same as sharpening knives but one thing that is the same is the light amount of pressure needed for the best results. The thing that makes razors different is the fact that we use the spine to control the angle. Therefore I'm having to learn how to use less pressure on the edge while the spine is also on the strop. That makes the technique needed completely different from sharpening knives. It took me 3 years or more to develop the ability to use ULTRA-LIGHT pressure on a knife edge. Stands to reason learning this with razors won't happen over night. I'm fairly certain I'll see a big difference in another year. Hope so anyway.