Thread: Newbie Strop Question

Hey there gang...

I have been stropping my razor now for a few weeks and think I'm finally starting to understand light pressure and audible feedback from the strop. I still get it wrong plenty but I seem to have indentified my#1 fault and the sound that the strop makes when I do it.

My question relates to making the X-stroke on the strop. I have realised that I am making more of a diagonal stroke in as much as I don't reposition the razor from one edge of the strop to the other as I flip it. So I come down and across the strop with the first motion flip the razor and strop back to the starting position. The whole blade goes across the strop with each pass.

Is this OK or to be avoided?

Thanks

So instead of an "X", you're making a "\"?

That's totally fine. An X stroke is more natural to most, but the motion you're doing shouldn't be a problem... Some might have an argument for scratch patterns created by honing in an "X" needing to be consistent in direction (ie oriented from heel to toe) rather than a "\" which would leave a heel to toe side on one side of the razor and toe to heel on the other...

Stropping that way shouldn't create any issues that I can tell.

Just have fun, and enjoy the journey.

That used to drive me nuts! It helped for me to think of the pattern as a figure 8 instead of "X" for that reason. Either way, I couldn't stand it because all I could think the whole time is, "One of these days I'm going to cut this strop right in half." Now that I have a 3" strop, I don't ever give it another thought.

I agree with Flyman, I started with a 2" strop and had the same issues. I then upgraded to a 3" strop and haven't looked back since. But if your current stropping works for you and you get a great shave from it , then it's all good

That should work but do yourself a favor and learn the regular stroke. Your razor will thank you.

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm going to try and concentrate on making an x-stroke. My stropping is coming along well I think.

I certainly feel like I am maintaining the edge better than my first few weeks and I have got through several stropping sessions now without making any cosmetic alterations to my strop! Maybe I can do even better with an X-stroke, we shall see.

I think the / stroke would probably work just as good at the strop as the x
A good reason to learn the x stroke is that you will need that movement later if you ever consider honing