Heavy then light pressure

I've read that strops with a heavy draw are useful for "drawing out" a blade. I don't know what that means but I guess it means to straighten out any imperfections on the edge of the blade? So I started to use "heavy" pressure when I start stropping (English Bridle strop) in hopes it will straighten out any messed up parts of the blade. My thinking is, it will "push" the imperfections into place. I do that for about 25 laps then I start decreasing the pressure, with each lap I use less pressure, until I'm using "light" pressure. I do this in hopes the light pressure will fine tune the edge. I stop at about 50 laps total. I do this after 30 laps on genuine linen. All my razors pass the silly hair test, i know it doesn't mean anything but I can't stand it when they don't pass :), and shave well. How many of you guys do that? Does it make a difference? :shrug:

I seem to be having such a problem trying to pass the hair test. I don't know if I'm stroping too hard or what. The razor across my face even after a water and lather soak is very course. I guess I need to keep on practicing my stroping. Should I expect my blade to be as sharp as the feathers I use for DE shaving? Maybe I am being unrealistic with my Dovo Bismark. :shrug:

I believe that Razors, like an Individual's Technique, have their limitations. All people and all blades won't be able to shave the same. We can only Try for the Best possible shave.

potentially all steels/hardnesses can behave differently. However, one almost universal observation I have with everything I have used (both knives and razors) is that descending pressure throughout the sharpening/honing process seems beneficial.

That said, I have very rarely seen lasting benefits from using additional pressure at the onset. I have universally found that light pressure and additional strokes is better than heavy pressure and fewer strokes...this is not to say that I have never used added pressure in the early stages in the interest of time;)

For stropping, I think individuals develop different preferences. I find myself developing maximum sharpness on most blades (as far as stropping is concerned) with about 3x the weight of the razor descending to weight of the razor. YMMV.

If you have ever seen an edge under mag you know it's pretty darn thin, almost like aluminum foil. Strop hard and you can deform that edge very easily. I know guys say they strop hard and get good results but of course we don't know what "hard" is.

I only know I wouldn't do it.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you have ever seen an edge under mag you know it's pretty darn thin, almost like aluminum foil. Strop hard and you can deform that edge very easily. I know guys say they strop hard and get good results but of course we don't know what "hard" is.

I only know I wouldn't do it.

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I subscribe to the theory of the thin edge. Rubbing the steel against your skin can noticeably degrade the edge so it must be fragile. My shaving comfort improved dramatically as my stropping got lighter. I am heavy-handed and rather clumsy by nature so it took considerable practice to develop a stropping stroke which maintained good edge contact but didn't result from strong pressure.

A latigo strop with very heavy draw will help one to develop the muscle memory. Strop lightly without the steel dragging and wanting to pull out of your fingers and you will develop a light touch which will work on any material and make a difference you can feel on your face.

Now regardless of leather type or draw weight my results are always good.

jaswarb, you just turned the light bulb on for me with your last sentence: "Strop lightly without the steel dragging and wanting to pull out of your fingers...." I have been in a wrestling match with the shank...my face has been the loser. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by jaswarb

I subscribe to the theory of the thin edge. Rubbing the steel against your skin can noticeably degrade the edge so it must be fragile. My shaving comfort improved dramatically as my stropping got lighter. I am heavy-handed and rather clumsy by nature so it took considerable practice to develop a stropping stroke which maintained good edge contact but didn't result from strong pressure.

A latigo strop with very heavy draw will help one to develop the muscle memory. Strop lightly without the steel dragging and wanting to pull out of your fingers and you will develop a light touch which will work on any material and make a difference you can feel on your face.

Now regardless of leather type or draw weight my results are always good.

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My stropping improved when I started pretending the straight razor was a knife. I have some Bark River knives that have to be stropped to be sharpen. Of course I had to modify my technique because of blade shape, angle and weight. Anyway, I bend my wrist a certain way when I sharpen knives. When I use that wrist bend while stropping my straights I think I get better results. I also use the same pressure as I would a knife but of course a straight weighs a lot less. Could be just bad technique but it works for me :p

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Originally Posted by Turk

I guess I need to keep on practicing my stroping. Should I expect my blade to be as sharp as the feathers I use for DE shaving? Maybe I am being unrealistic with my Dovo Bismark. :shrug:

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Correct stropping can make or break an edge , literally.
If your razor was honed by somebody other than the factory it should be every bit as sharp as a DE.

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Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

Anyway, I bend my wrist a certain way when I sharpen knives. When I use that wrist bend while stropping my straights I think I get better results. I also use the same pressure as I would a knife but of course a straight weighs a lot less. Could be just bad technique but it works for me :p

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Bending the wrist is technically bad technique as it can promote uneven torque on the blade due to the inconsistent attitude of the wrist.. It may work for you but I wouldn't advise newbs to develop bad habits. There is often a good reason why things are done a certain way.

As for pressure it is a relative term which can mean a whole different thing to a new user. A freshly honed razor warrants extremely light pressure if finished on a very fine stone. A razor 6 months into it's rotation could well need a little more oomph. There are really no absolutes & as you said "it works for you" but not necessarily for others.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Correct stropping can make or break an edge

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Totally agree, I have TM red latigo with strong draw, if HHT is good but somewhat lacking every time i strop with that (20 linen 40 leather) that gives excellent results.

To the guys who say they try to strop 'harder'; have you tried using a canvas strop first, and then a normal strop? The canvas is much better at removing any irregularities (or I think this is what's happening), and you don't have to use much pressure at all.

I have never found a benefit to using heavy pressure while stropping on either linen/cotton or leather. The amount of pressure I use is just sufficient to deflect the strop 1/2" in the middle while holding it taut. I suspect that you have rounded the edge from using to much pressure and the razor needs a touch up honing.

Just my $.02 :)

When I started I rolled the edge most likely by using too much pressure. The shave wasn't fun :(

Keeping the spine on the strop and using light pressure are key IMHO.

ok I changed my stropping routine...again. I use an English Bridle strop with moderate pressure (what I call moderate pressure) for 30 laps. Then switch to a SRD Premium I or Tony Miller Steerhide (real light draw) strop for about 25 laps. All this after 30 laps on Genuine Linen. I'm getting what I think is good results. Razors are cutting leg hair med length.

Light to medium pressure only, not any benefit to any harder strokes, it will only roll the edge, very bad thing mate, just have to spenc more time stropping, that's all, not a biggy.

Sincerely, tinkersd

When I first started stropping I remember carefully following the advice to maintain minimal pressure ... But I was barely keeping the blade in contact with the strop that way and I think it didn't help.

My breakthrough was when I deliberately did 30 linen and 60 leather with proper technique, and ensuring that the spine and edge were in full, even contact with the strop through the lap. I was sure I was going to need to re-hone the razor; but when I took it off the strop, it plinked off my arm hair effortlessly.