Stropping technique

I have read a lot about stropping techniques and was wondering if someone could help me out with what is probably an incredibly dim question.

If you have a 2 inch or 2 1/2 inch strop people recommend you use an x pattern to strop with. As a newbie, I am concerned that I may not be able to master this technique straight away. Is there any particular reason why I shouldn't split the blade into sections? I appreciate this will mean the middle gets more strokes but, for example could I do 40 straight strokes on one half and 40 straight strokes on the other half? Will the middle being stropped more times than the sides create problems?

Thanks in advance.

I don't think so. Think you will also find the X stroke easier than you think. I for one do not like 3 inch wide strops, much prefer 2 or 2 and 1/2 inch ones. Looking forward to ordering a Westholme strop myself.

Use a butter knife to practice getting your technique down. Muscle memory will be your friend. Don't get into a rush to do the strokes a million miles per hour. I prefer a narrow strop, max 2 1/2 inches wide. I do X strokes all the time. Stay focus with the task at hand. I was super slow at first....then as you do it more and more you develop your speed. Maybe get some newspaper and make a "practice" strop with it...... If you don't rip it and you feel you are getting better, move onto the leather strop. Just a few suggestions.

Good luck!

Also most quality strop makers do beginner/practice strops. Often not advertised, but available on request.

You could use that technique, but you would be better served,in my opinion,to use the x pattern and learn to strop properly from the beginning. Why have to unlearn a muscle memory that has become ingrained. Take your time, you do not have to strop quickly,technique is far more important than speed. If you are concerned about damaging your strop,practice on a newsprint strop. ** Edit, Sorry Willisf ,I neglected reading your post and you pretty much already covered it. :shrug:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fOyFNPylC4

Most blades (contrary to popular belief) are not 3". Some are but most if you measure the cutting area you are stropping are between 2 1/2" and 2 3/4" so with a strop that is 2 1/2" wide you really have nothing to worry about. Even with a 2" strop (which almost all of mine are) there is not much cutting edge that is "hanging" off the strop at any given point. So straight up and back, diagonal/half X, or full X strokes it doesn't matter much in my experience. Now, is it helpful to know these other patterns? Yes.

I've just gotten started recently with all of this *waves broadly* and the x-stroke will come pretty quickly. For stropping, you'll also be looking for the proper flip so you don't muck up the edge, and don't muck up the strop. Keeping it taut, making sure the strop is clean, conditioned, etc. If you also have to hone (condolences :p) same deal, you'll be learning other aspects of it as well, the maintenance procedures, like the shaving itself, will force you to slow them down into a ritual or routine of their own. (And of course, you can make it work for you - watch some of the good honing/stropping/shaving videos but realize you won't be going *that* fast any time soon!)

So the x-stroke will just be one little part of the whole.

My 2¢

There is one problem with the stropping video in post 5. He is stropping with the shoulder of the blade on the strop. If you do that on leather, two things will happen. First, you will wear the heck out of the edge of your strop. Second, the shoulder riding on the leather will prevent the heel of the blade from making contact with the strop, so that section of the blade will fail to be stropped at all.

Hi Chris

Like said before practice with a butter knife. Stropping isnt as hard as you think and an a X stroke will usually come naturally to most.

Points to consider.

-The strop should be taught not tight
-Stropping should be relaxing, if your tense, your arms will be tense, then your hands will be tense resulting in a jittery or non fluid motion.
-Wrists should be firm and the flip be done with thumb and forefinger.
-Movement is from the elbow
-Spine in contact with strop.
-No pressure, nice and light.
-Dont go too fast this is not the movies.
-Have fun!

Thanks guys for the tips