Originally Posted by
Jimbo
There's deflection and there's deflection. I like to use pressure when I strop and until I videoed my stropping I did not realise there is quite a bit of deflection going on when I do. The trick is to apply most pressure at the spine I think, and allow the edge to follow up with controlled pressure. Take a look at some of the stropping videos out there - one in particular of an old barber at some hotel or other - and you will see that some people have a very sloppy strop.
There are no hard and fast rules IMO. The only general rules I stick to are edge trailing and never lift the spine. Other than that I think it is open slather, and whatever works for you is the best guide.
James.