Thread: X-pattern for stropping

Two reasons for X patten stropping.
1. The strop is too narrow to encompass the length of the blade.
2. The surface of the strop is not uniformly flat, so an X pattern insures all parts of the blade edge touch the surface during some part of each stroke.

Look closely at the direction arrows in the stropping diagram shown in the old barber's guide shown in this link:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=20838

Another reason to consider: the cutting angle of the micro-serrations created by honing with the X pattern.

And this is irregardless of the width or surface quality of the strop.


Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

Another reason to consider: the cutting angle of the micro-serrations created by honing with the X pattern.

And this is irregardless of the width or surface quality of the strop.


Scott

Actually, the odd thing about this is that the micro-serrations made by x pattern honing is perpendicular to the path of the x pattern for stropping shown in barber manuals. In order to strop in line with the honing serrations, stropping would have to be done in a toe to heel pattern rather than the heel to toe stropping shown in barber manuals. This is an experiment I have intended to try for a long time.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Actually, the odd thing about this is that the micro-serrations made by x pattern honing is perpendicular to the path of the x pattern for stropping shown in barber manuals. In order to strop in line with the honing serrations, stropping would have to be done in a toe to heel pattern rather than the heel to toe stropping shown in barber manuals. This is an experiment I have intended to try for a long time.

If you are adept at making drawings with MS Paint, or some other software, it would be great to see an illustration of what you are describing above. I'm picturing it my own mind, but it may not be what you're meaning. And yes, it's Monday morning, and that doesn't help either...



Scott

Danb, the X-pattern refers to the motion of moving from heel to toe as you move the razor along the length of the strop/hone (see RandyDance's avatar). On a narrow surface, this ensures the whole edge makes contact with the strop/hone. There also seems to be benefits from how this treats the edge - as you can see from the discussion here.

That being said, I use a 3" strop which fits the full length of my razors. If a razor has a smile, I use the X pattern - to make sure the whole edge contacts. If the blade is more or less straight, I just angle the blade to lead with the heel and go straight up and down the strop.

Jordan

Originally Posted by honedright

If you are adept at making drawings with MS Paint, or some other software, it would be great to see an illustration of what you are describing above. I'm picturing it my own mind, but it may not be what you're meaning. And yes, it's Monday morning, and that doesn't help either...



Scott

For microserrations were equal during stroping would have to start by the toe.

Dioni

Originally Posted by Estroncio

For microserrations were equal during stroping would have to start by the toe.

Dioni

I took the liberty of editing your illustration a bit by adding a red direction of travel arrow indicating the propper path for the razor while stropping:




Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

Another reason to consider: the cutting angle of the micro-serrations created by honing with the X pattern.

And this is irregardless of the width or surface quality of the strop.


Scott

irregardless |ˌiriˈgärdlis|
adjective & adverb informal
regardless.
ORIGIN early 20th cent.: probably a blend of irrespective and regardless .
USAGE Irregardless, with its illogical negative prefix, is widely heard, perhaps arising under the influence of such perfectly correct forms as: irrespective. Irregardless is avoided by careful users of English. Use regardless to mean 'without regard or consideration for' or 'nevertheless': | I go walking every day regardless of season or weather.

Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine. Don't even get me started about nuclear or in Dubbaya's case, nuculear!

Originally Posted by mischievous

irregardless |ˌiriˈgärdlis|
adjective & adverb informal
regardless.
ORIGIN early 20th cent.: probably a blend of irrespective and regardless .
USAGE Irregardless, with its illogical negative prefix, is widely heard, perhaps arising under the influence of such perfectly correct forms as: irrespective. Irregardless is avoided by careful users of English. Use regardless to mean 'without regard or consideration for' or 'nevertheless': | I go walking every day regardless of season or weather.

Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine. Don't even get me started about nuclear or in Dubbaya's case, nuculear!

Regarding your suggestion...pertaining to my disregard of the careful use of the English language...in the future, I promise to be more careful, regardless...




(thanks for the heads up)

Now, back on topic...




The above photo from an old barber manual (and others very similar) have been posted a few times recently on SRP.

The photo clearly shows the BEGINNING of the classic X pattern stropping stroke. What it fails to show is the actual follow through of the stroke, except for a directional arrow indicating the path of the razor.

Unless you've seen a trained barber stropping, the above photo could be confusing as it could be assumed that the stroke is performed with the razor maintaining a static position, heel leading.

But if you look closely, you will see the directional arrow in the photo begins at the point of the razor. In actual performance, the razor, as it travels diagonally, pivots around the heel, and the point leads through most of the stroke.

A bit hard for me to describe (much easier to show), but I'm hoping you get the idea.


Scott


Scott