New Stropping Revalation

I realized today, that if I put the weight of the razor on the edge of the spine while stropping on my 3" Tony Miller Red Latigo, contact with the edge is enhanced and my 8/8 Friodur actually "sings" while I strop. I have not run into this before. The resulting shave was one of the best I have ever had. Nearly BBS in two passes.

I am thinking of adopting this practice all the time, but want to make sure that this is not a bad idea for any reason. This seems to provide even contact without putting too much pressure on the edge.

Can anyone else give me feedback good or bad on this before it becomes a habit?

Can you explain what you mean a little more, maybe by contrast with what you were doing before? Is it just that now you're using a bit of pressure, whereas you used not to before?

Sorry if I'm being thick, I'm just not sure what "put the weight of the razor on the edge of the spine" means. Where was the weight before?

I've been recommending this practice for a long time...;)

Scott

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Originally Posted by dylandog

Can you explain what you mean a little more, maybe by contrast with what you were doing before? Is it just that now you're using a bit of pressure, whereas you used not to before?

Sorry if I'm being thick, I'm just not sure what "put the weight of the razor on the edge of the spine" means. Where was the weight before?

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Before I was trying to keep as light a touch as possible, under the understanding that just like in honing, this gives the sharpest edge ( may need to refine this for honing as well). I was trying to have almost no weight anywhere. I think in doing this the contact was not as complete across the blade as it should have been.

Today I applied jsut enough pressure to deflect the strop slightly, but focused on applying any force right at the edge of the spine

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brad

Before I was trying to keep as light a touch as possible, under the understanding that just like in honing, this gives the sharpest edge ( may need to refine this for honing as well). I was trying to have almost no weight anywhere. I think in doing this the contact was not as complete across the blade as it should have been.

Today I applied jsut enough pressure to deflect the strop slightly, but focused on applying any force right at the edge of the spine

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I get it now.

That is an excellent approach. I do this too, and in fact I learned it from honedright way back when.

Thanks guys. I'll keep this process in. Glad I stumbled on this and it is a good thing rather than a bad habit.

Sounds like the way i strop... only as much pressure to keep the spine firmly on the strop.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...t=20401&page=3
This is my answer on another thread for stroping

If you keep the pressure on the spine, the pressure transfered to the edge is very light. (the larger the width of the blade, the lower the pressure transfered on the edge)* So the effort needed is to keep the spine and the strop surface allways in contact for all the number of strokes without interruption

I am not a fun of extra-ultra-light pressure on strop
Allways keep the pressure on the spine

I use the pressure needed to keep the spine constantly in contact with leather and to feel the drag

I believe that it is better a little more pressure than lighter from the ideal.
I strop my razors 31 years now X aprox. 300 days per year = 9300 stroping sessions X 40 = 372,000 stroping pases X 2 = 744,000 stroping motions :eek:
oh my god :gth

* this is not correct for the pre 1800 razors because the tag is in the center of the blade

this would be a good sticky

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Originally Posted by honedright

I've been recommending this practice for a long time...;)

Scott

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yannis

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...t=20401&page=3
This is my answer on another thread for stroping

If you keep the pressure on the spine, the pressure transfered to the edge is very light. (the larger the width of the blade, the lower the pressure transfered on the edge)* So the effort needed is to keep the spine and the strop surface allways in contact for all the number of strokes without interruption

I am not a fun of extra-ultra-light pressure on strop
Allways keep the pressure on the spine

I use the pressure needed to keep the spine constantly in contact with leather and to feel the drag

I believe that it is better a little more pressure than lighter from the ideal.
I strop my razors 31 years now X aprox. 300 days per year = 9300 stroping sessions X 40 = 372,000 stroping pases X 2 = 744,000 stroping motions :eek:
oh my god :gth

* this is not correct for the pre 1800 razors because the tag is in the center of the blade

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This applies also to honing? :hmmm:


Regards

Dioni

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Originally Posted by Estroncio

This applies also to honing? :hmmm:


Regards

Dioni

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I don't think this applies to honing other than keep the edge in constant contact. While I still am working on the lighest touch I can, I am not there yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Estroncio

This applies also to honing? :hmmm:


Regards

Dioni

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No, this does not applies to honing.
In honing the presure must be very very light (almost no pressure but the weight of the blade ) and with uniform distribution on the razors spine and edge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Estroncio

This applies also to honing? :hmmm:


Regards

Dioni

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Pressure while honing is variable. To say that one only uses light, or no pressure while honing is misleading.

At times, depending on the condition of the razor, slight to moderate pressure at the begining, gradually leading to lighter pressure as the edge develops, is often necessary. One needs to use the moistened thumb nail test to judge this edge development to avoid under, or over-honing the blade.

For quick touch ups, light pressure only (just the weight of the blade) may be sufficient.

It is best (no, it's vital) to try and distribute the pressure evenly over the entire blade while honing. But using the back (spine) of the razor as a "rest" or reference point while honing will help prevent too much emphasis of pressure at the razors edge.


Scott

I find a similarity in the release of pressure in both honing and stropping, but we don't do it all the same, that is for certain.

I'd like to return to the original discussion if I could.

Could those of you who feel you apply pressure to the spine while stropping explain how you do this? I'm at a loss and I promise I've thought about it for a few days. I tried it and wasn't able to apply any pressure and develop a good turn/stroke (which is probably because I'm an uncoordinated dolt).

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Could those of you who feel you apply pressure to the spine while stropping explain how you do this? I'm at a loss and I promise I've thought about it for a few days. I tried it and wasn't able to apply any pressure and develop a good turn/stroke (which is probably because I'm an uncoordinated dolt).

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Pressure is not large, I would estimate twice the weight of the razor. I did it by applying my index finger on the upper corner of the leading edge (the spine) and keeping my thumb on the flat underside of the tang. In this manner I am able to flip the razor reasonably well by effectively rolling my thumb up and back across my forefinger. I am not by any stretch a speed stropper. I take my time with a smooth even stroke and if it takes me a few extra minutes, so be it. My technique is getting smoother with this though and I can now do 50 strokes in the time it used to take me to do 30. That also has improved my shave.