Quote Originally Posted by xman
I have to ask why? It seems like such an intruiging idea considering some of the ideas which have been bandied around here about stropping. What are you trying to accomplish by this and do you think there are any residual benefits?
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I've had two experiences (not much, in my limited time doing this) where going to the linen FFTH made all the difference for me. I had the razor FFTH and went straight to leather. It didn't shave well, but a few passes on the linen and then back to the leather and it was shavable. I notice also that the linen (which started off very bright white when it was new) has been discolored and probably removes some small amount of metal (it's pretty coarse). After this use of the linen, I try not to use it for several shaves, and see how long I can go without going back to it or the hone.

Quote Originally Posted by xman
I guess if I had read your post a little more clearly I would have noticed the 2-3mm remark. That sure is a small slack if you could really consider it a slack at all. It's what I would consider within my margin of error. Why do you ease up intentionally?
I just let it go barely slack, and I'm not sure it has any effect at all. It may just be my imagination, but it when I back off so there is just ever so slight slack in the strop, the razor makes a distinctively different sound on the leather. I only do it for a few strokes at the end, very gently. I tried this because I saw a video that showed this. I think you can find it if you google "straight razor honing videos".

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