Thread: Do you vary the tautness of the strop?

I normally hold my strop almost as straight as an arrow. But I wonder if my old wedge razor (pre 1890) would be stropped more quickly if I slacked it slightly, since there is practically no concave curve under the razor. Anybody tried this?

Constantly. I never hold the strop dead straight, even for my straight edged grinds. All smiling edges get slack in the strop as needed. It's been discussed here in a number of threads.


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When I strop a wedge, especially one that was honed with multiple layers of tape, I will add a slight amount of slack in the strop. You want to be careful about adding too much because it would make it easier to round off your edge!

Very interesting. I sometimes manage to get a good edge on my old wedge razor, but it seems to take forever compared to the other razors. I was thinking that it might be because I hold the strop too straight and taut.

I tend to pull the linen strop somewhat taught; but I introduce a little bit slack to the leather strop according to sound and feel, this being, to some extent, grind- and tape-related.

I would think you want a good edge on your razor before stropping, the leather and linen really only align the edge and polish , not sharpen and as far as tension, there is a lot of give in a hanging strop so a little slack wont hurt it but tight seems to do whats its supposed to do. look at most bench strops, with leather on a board, even that deflects enough to strop. Tc

Enough tension to hold it steady.

Call me crazy, but I strop on a flat surface.

Originally Posted by Deeter

Call me crazy, but I strop on a flat surface.

Where are the theatrics to that?

Total lack thereof.