Thread: Stropping technique

stropping is done to ALIGN the steel on the very edge of the razor. i think it was robert williams (papabull) that posted pics under the microscope in which he showed the vary'n patterns on the edge of the razor as he honed different grits and then stropped.

microserations in the metal cause the edge to basically bend away from alignment. alignment puts everything straight causing a uniform edge and thus a sharper edge. the microserations put basically tiny tiny gaps(metal bending away from straight) in the edge of the blade that if you dont strop them straight they are pushed further out of alignment by use.

you hone to sharpen the blade all the way up thru pastes if thats what you are using. you strop inorder to align the steel just before use that causes an even sharper (more perfect, no gap) edge.

before stropping ------------/------\------\------/ ...
after stropping ----------------------------------

i would say that pulling the leather TIGHT during stropping is number 1 priority. if the leather is loose it will bow as you strop and that cuases rounding of the blade no matter how light or hard you strop. rounding meaning you have gone past the straight alignment and are flattening the edge. also light stropping is beneficial especially when starting, although i have heard some folks that use a bit more pressure but they all express the necessity of tight leather. lay the blade flat becuase the larger the angle will bring u back to the rounding of the edge.


thats my take on the process.

~J