Quote Originally Posted by honedright View Post
All I can think of, Joe, is that I've tried lots of different variations in speed, pressure, and patterns while stropping. Another factor is sound. We all know about "singing" razors. I've noticed, even with "non-singing" razors, there is a particular high pitched whisper, or rasp that comes from all of my razors when they are at optimum sharpness on the strop (particularly on "smooth" leather strops, not so much on a Russian).

I hope this helps,

Scott
Scott,

I have done a few experiments myself and found that I get best results when stropping with the spine just coming off the leather (i.e. hovering 1 or 2 mm above the leather). When doing so my razors also make a singing noise that does not occur when the spine is pushed against the leather. I wonder whether the singing will disappear when you actually push the spine against the leather. If so, I reckon you do your stropping with the spine off the leather.

I realse that what I just wrote is heresy to most forum members but I felt I had to discuss this now that you mentioned the singing of your razors.