I recently saw a video where Nic from Nic Shaves went to see Howard at the Perfect edge on U-Tube. Howard said you don't need to strop, just freshen us the razor with a 12k, 16k or 30k stone. 5-7 light laps and your good to go. It was said that since a strop doesn't sharpen the blade, just polish it, if the blade is honed right that's all you need. I tried it without stropping then with 10-15 strops after and before and I think the 10-15 strops does gives a better shave. When I went back to the 40-60 I found the results were not as good as the 10-15 strops. I use a SRD modular strop. His more laps really necessary or needed. Open to your opinions.