Newb - how do you properly use a strop?

Getting mine in shortly..,.any advice?

practice with a butter knife so you don't cut your new strop.

Good advice or even buy a terrible blade from ebite. Wrecked/blunt the edge and practice with that. That way you get a feel for holding a razor in the strop position and a get a feel for holding the pivot.

Here's one reference. More reading material.

Keep it taut and use a light touch. Turn the razor over on the spine while its still moving and begin the return stroke before the edge touches down.

Use only enough pressure to deflect the taught strop 1/2" and never ever ever lift the spine.... GO SOWLY!!! you will wreck an edge very easily with the strop. Work on technique not speed unless you want to get your razor rehoned right after, cut your strop in too, and/or bloody up your face with a dull blade. I do 50 laps but that is a topic for debate