Stroping technique beyond X strokes

[RFP357]

Normally we strop with the blade at a 90 degree angle to the strop.

I have been experimenting with that angle and changing it anywhere from 20-40 degrees.

For example 20 laps with the blade tang angled forward, 20 laps with blade tang angled rearward, 20 laps with blade perpendicular to the strop. I do this on the linen and leather sides.

Has anyone tried this before? I'm curious what the effects would be. I haven't noticed a degradation in my shaves.

I'm not scientific so I don't have a control razor or a magnifying device to compare the control razor to the test razor.

Thoughts?

[tcrideshd]

I think you will find most guys don't have it at 90 degrees to the strop, it just naturally seems to be easier to just lead with the heel some TC

[Wayne1963]

I use a protractor to ensure a precise 36 degree angle. I then pray to the Aztec God Coxiquitelmen. Just kidding, I just slap the razor back and forth.

[coachschaller]

I strop in an X stroke, heel leading, heel trailing, and an arc. I make sure to get all my angles covered

[Obie]

Gentlemen,

I angle my razor to lead with the toe going forth and lead with the heel coming back. This automatically develops into the X pattern. I do this regardless of the strop width.

What's more, I use only about seven or eight inches of length of the strop, manipulating the razor between the thumb and the index finger with the wrist almost locked. This way I get a smooth stropping action which also gives me much better control of the razor.

Of course, whichever stropping method that works for the individual shaver is what's important — without making the process too complicated.

[BobH]

I use a 3 inch strop and habitually strop heel leading both directions like a windshield wiper stroke.

Bob

[Steve56]

I do what Obie does, angled with toe leading up and heel leading down. I do this maybe for a different reason.

Like maybe some others, I started started stropping high end kitchen knives so I flip the razor edge down, not roll over the spine. You'd never flip a kitchen knife on the spine and I had already learned the muscle memory that way - and BTW have never cut a strop with a razor from the first stropping.

This does have a downside, it's easier to 'roll' the edge at the end of the stroke, but having the blade at an angle seems to greatly reduce the tendency to do that.

Cheers, Steve

[JeffR]

I sort of pivot my forearm at the elbow during each pass across the strop in a way that may best be described as a "windshield-wiper" motion, flipping the blade with the spine in contact with the strop using my fingertips. It's a very smooth, un-rushed and relaxed motion, and for me doesn't produce muscle fatigue like other techniques do. Of course as always, YMMV.

[JoelLewicki]

If there was ever a thread where videos would be helpful, this HAS to be it. Right?

[Steve56]

If there was ever a thread where videos would be helpful, this HAS to be it. Right?

Well, not a video of me stropping, I do everything backwards lol.

Seriously though, stropping is just developing the proper muscle memory just like shaving or honing. Watching videos of people driving a car or riding a bike might be helpful (or not), but they will not develop that muscle memory for you, you just have to practice.

Stropping, straight shaving, and honing are truly activities where practice makes perfect.

Cheers, Steve