This has most likely been discussed before, but my searches haven't brought up anything obvious, so...

Putting aside the need for going slow when learning to strop, which is very important, I know, do people have any thoughts on the role stropping speed plays in producing shaving edges?

There's a couple of reasons I ask. First, any time you see experienced straight users strop their razors (old barber videos, Lynn and Scott's videos etc) they are going at it at arm-blurring speeds. Why? Time minimisation? Because they can? Because it looks cool? Or because it produces superior edges?

Second, I've been wondering about friction heat and whether it aids edge alignment for quite a while now. We're talking very fine edges, and I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on that. Heat and metal go together, in a sense. Faster stropping would produce more friction, producing more heat at the edge. Do you think that's right, or am I way off?

I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts.

James.