Thread: Not Using X Stroke, Diagonal Only

It really doesn't matter IMO. If it works for you, that's great!

Personally, I have not done an X stroke on a strop for 5 years. I find it fairly pointless (why does a strop need to hit the entire edge of a razor on each stroke?) and a needlessly un-ergonomic and unnatural action for the way my arm works. I either go straight up and back, or I use a curved stroke. If I am on a narrow strop, I strop bits of the edge at a time until the whole edge is done - usually that just happens in two bits: heel to middle, then middle to toe. Again, strops do not remove metal like hones do, so who cares that the entire edge gets hit on each stroke or not?

James.