Quote Originally Posted by Kees
I am puzzled myself by the fact that I get such poor results when I strop the way it should be done / the way everyone else does it. That's why I started this thread.
It puzzles me too, but I'm starting to think you're not doing anything unusual. If you watch anyone using a hanging strop, there's always a certain amount of give when they strop. I think your 1-2 mm are in the range that give produces.

Why it would improve your edge I don't know. A leather strop is essentially non-abrasive- you don't use it for that reason. So, you you're not getting a secondary (actually third) bevel. Look at it under a microscope and I think you'll find that to be the case.

I use mostly paddle strops, and I notice they are designed to have a certain amount of give. It may be a cushion or hollow support, or a tension adjustment, or even balsa wood (which is very soft and gives). So it seems that strop is intended to move across the edge slightly in order to push the microserrations together more effectively. That's really all your raised spine is doing.