Thread: Not Using X Stroke, Diagonal Only

Hi, probably a silly question, or just an observation really, but I've now been straight shaving for around a year and get very good results. I hone all my own razors and am very happy with everything I've learnt. One thing I have learnt is there's a lot of different opinions.

A quick question, does anyone strop using a stroke that is only diagonal, i.e. just HALF of an X stroke. I basically stroke from top left to bottom right and then bottom right to top left, I never strop in the much revered X stroke fashion. I do 30/70 pre and 10/10 post, and it always seems to work just fine. I have a good technique with this stroke and note the blade is always flat on the strop. Just curious if anyone else here who may be reading this uses this stroke?

Carl

If I am understanding your method correctly I would call that an x stroke when it comes to stropping. IOW, unlike honing, where the diagonal is more pronounced .... the point where most of the razor leaves the hone, with the strop it is something like half .... as you described.

I don't think I'm explaining myself well, I do just one of the 'X' diagonals, top left to bottom right; I don't flip and go bottom left to top right; I flip and go bottom right to top left, so, top left to bottom right, bottom right top top left. I've probably made it even more confusing.

I think I understand what you are getting at. I start at the bottom left ( I'm right handed) and flip at the top of the stroke and I do an x stroke. As long as it works .....

I think you are right, sounds like just an observation.

I read this as that you are doing a right handed and then a left handed X stroke! I do mine straight. I have been thinking about doing away with leather all together.

Tim

At risk of starting to get annoying, here's the two worst drawings in history. I simply repeat these two strokes; just one diagonal of the 'X'.

What is the sound of one hand stropping ? Trying to figure out if we are doing the same thing, after working a 10 hour shift, is making my head hurt.

Carl,

I know what you are getting at. You go down on the way out, then come back up on the way back. You don't go back to the top at each end. Sound about right?

There was a huge thread on this a while back. A guy was promoting this method as a big time saver. Other posters thought it went against the striations of the blade. I'll try and find it and if I can I will update this post with the link

Update: I didn't find it.


Michael

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

What is the sound of one hand stropping ?

I think it is the same sound as "if a man speaks, and no woman can hear him, is he still wrong?"

I've used x-strokes and heel-forward strokes whilst stropping. I find it kind of depends on the strop being used, which in my case is an Illinois #127.