Thread: stropping angle

I suppose that's debatable. I think the common consensus is to use enough pressure to feel "draw" when stropping. That will depend on the razor and the strop being used if I understand it right.

There's another thread active right now where someone is just using "the weight of the razor" and the edge doesn't touch the strop apparently.

I really couldn't say if a lighter touch produces a keener edge. In my experience, I use a very light touch because I'm heavy handed and if I don't, I'll ruin the edge but I can't speak authoritatively on this.

Adding more weight isn't really helpful, but you need some draw. The last few strokes should be really light. Uphill, downhill, it should all be fine. With just the weight of the blade and a dulling razor you may end up with razor burn. The key, I think, is not to add the weight by torquing the edge of the razor into the strop, it'll bend/roll like that.

The stropping action occurs from the motion, not the pressure.

After a few years of practice you may notice that strokes with the nap of the leather require differing pressure than strokes against it, but thats really putting a lot of emphasis into the most simple steps of the straight shaving process.