Thread: How much pressure when stropping?

I have a question about pressure when stropping. A lot of articles I've read talk about using no pressure, but from the videos watched it looks like there is some pressure being used:
eg



I am am wondering how much pressure is good for stropping and if I am using enough to do a good job. Would appreciate some direction.

Thanks

No pressure is kind of misleading, there should be pressure but not so much to roll the edge.
Unfortunately to figure how much to use you need to practice.

There should be enough pressure _on the spine_ so you can see the strop bend a little bit around the spine.

You should _not_ be able to see the strop bend as it goes around the edge. If you can see it bending, you're pressing too hard on the edge.

I once put a strop down along the edge of a table, and did an X-stroke with a Dovo "Best Quality" razor -- not the thinnest grind. In good light, I could see the whole edge bending as it came off the strop!

A light hand is best.

Charles

If you look at it semantically, no pressure = no contact. You only need enough pressure to maintain contact but that is usually a lot lighter than most beginners think, hence the expression "no pressure".

Most strops have a little draw. If it does you would use only enough pressure to feel some draw. Looked at another way, the simplicity of stropping becomes painfully obvious; strop with enough pressure so it feels like you are stropping.

What this means is that when you move the blade down the strop you should feel something, and what that is is stropping. As Randy points out, this effect happens at practically any speed.

Just a point of clarification for the OP.............

Pressure......when I hone I use a 60/40 distribution, 60% on the spine and 40% on the edge ( approx). I try to do the same when stropping.

Taut strop........Yup, a slack strop will dull the edge but please, not so tight that you pull the bolts out of the wall!

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Just a point of clarification for the OP.............

Pressure......when I hone I use a 60/40 distribution, 60% on the spine and 40% on the edge ( approx). I try to do the same when stropping.

Taut strop........Yup, a slack strop will dull the edge but please, not so tight that you pull the bolts out of the wall!

I posted a video in the Stroptober thread asking about how taught to keep the strop, I keep hearing taught but I guess its like trying to explain what sharp is

A lot more pressure than you might think. The "weight of the blade" is a myth. It's the sound. I've never heard anyone talk about the sound a proper stropping makes and using THAT as your guide. You're shooting for that paper tearing sound. More on a hollow and less on the wedge.

+1 with the above. Each razor will sing differently. You'll get use to what's right for each one.

Pressure? Stropping? Go to the Head Master's office straight way boy, and tell him why you're there!...
Now, class, have we done pre-shave preparation yet?

I think if you concentrate on the 'no pressure' concept at first, after a few months you'll understand...Sound is also a good gauge, as mentioned above by Slash, however you need to know the sound each of your razors like if you have a few different styles. The sound my Full Hollow Burrell Top Flight makes is truly astonishing, but so again is the sound from my De Pews near wedge. Nice, pleasant, comforting sounds. You have to know your razor's preferred stropping sound. I find I can't RARELY see the edge that well as I strop, so feel and hearing guide me.

For me, I concentrate on a fully trailing edge. No twist on the tang to force it down, a twist or hold to bring it to the strop so it trails. I also do quite a few laps (30/70).

It's one the principles of marksmanship "The weapon must point naturally at the target with no undue effort on behalf of the firer"...

That's just how I do it and it seems to work quite well for me...