I've tried different ways of stropping and have settled lately on a method that's comfortable and produces the desired results. So, I had to go and mess with things.

I am currently experimenting with a type of pyramid stropping. Here is what I do:

10 passes on the linen
10 passes on the leather
10 passes on the linen
20 passes on the leather

What I'm noticing is that I get a more consistent, even draw and that the edge is more comfortable to shave with and I get an even closer shave (which was already very close).

I'm the first one to admit this might be totally useless and unrelated but it has me curious. If the better results are, in fact, a result of this little pyramid structure, why?

Anyone care to opine?