Thread: Help stropping !!!!

mvacca7 --

I wrote this before, earlier in the thread . . .

Correct stropping sequence (for a vertical strop) (the spine is _always_ touching the strop!):

Start with the spine on the strop, at the bottom, and the blade at right angles to the strop.

As you start to move the blade up, rotate the blade around the spine until the edge touches the strop.

Continue the upward stroke to near the top of the strop.

As you slow down, keep the spine on the strop, and lift the edge off the strop.

When you're stopped at the top, the blade should be at right angles to the strop.

As you start the stroke downward, rotate the blade so that the edge touches the strop.

Near the bottom of the strop, raise the edge off the strop, and slow down;

Repeat from "Start . . . ".

Timing the "flip" is crucial. If you're nicking the strop, your timing is off. You're rotating the edge onto the strop while the spine is moving in the wrong (toward-the-edge) direction. And it cuts into the leather.

Practice slowly, practice slowly, practice, practice . . .

. charles