Thread: Stroping technique beyond X strokes

I was referring mostly to the prayers to the Aztec God Coxiquitelmen...

Originally Posted by 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?

I doubt the positioning of the razor on the strop (as in: the angle when looking down on razor and strop) has any effect on the outcome of stropping, as long as the rest of the technique is up to par (spine to strop angle, pressure, tautness).

I heard of someone who stropped back and forth focused on the heel and toe separately instead of using the X-pattern. As far as I know and tried it, that works too.

A more fun thing to play around with is pressure and tautness, but this should only be done when one has completely mastered basic stropping.

Personally I don't believein the benefit of honing or stropping at a certain angle.
A bevel is sharp irrespective of the angle of the scratch pattern. Strops shouldn't scratch unless they're pasted.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I use a protractor to ensure a precise 36 degree angle. I then pray to the Aztec God Coxiquitelmen.

Interesting, this God of straight shaving. Out of interest: how does one pronounce his name?

Ive tried all ways, i dont think it makes a difference if you go straight up and down, heel leading, toe leading or window wiper laps. I generally do x strokes no matter what razor but feel its imperative to do heel or toe leading x strokes if its a smiling razor. Sometimes I might go a bit crazy and use different stokes on the same razor.
To follow the stria whilst honing heel leading x strokes some will strop toe leading.

Lots of Good stropping stuff

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html


I have used the Racetrack pattern that I learned back in 1981 since then,, It works well on any sized strop and covers the entire edge evenly and equally...

Although I doubt there is much to it I hone heel forward so I strop toe forward both with a slight swooping motion... To my OCD brain it keeps the striations in line, I don't care what anyone thinks, it makes me happy

Thanks for posting the link to that thread, I just learned more. Yeah I know I still have a long way to go but this place will have me tuned in in no time

The angles are more important if you are using a strop that is less than 3 inches in width. If, it is a 3 inch strop, then the angle means nothing, straight up and down main street any way you wish will work, but if it's a 2 1/2 inch or less, then the natural angle of up to 90 deg, helps as you need lateral movement to cover the entire blade as you would on a hone, using the x pattern.

Probably because I always used 2&1/2" strops when the 3" became available, and popular I couldn't get used to that and sold mine. Seemed like a lot of unused real estate since I am used to X stroke stropping with the heel slightly leading. Not sure of the angle, but I the blade gets covered heel to point.

I don't turn my wrist, but the tang is between the end of my thumb pad, and the tip of my forefinger. The three fingers, middle, ring, and little finger are sort of cradling the scales and assisting in the flip by offering support to the razor. The tang twists between forefinger and thumb.

I think however a person gets used to doing it doesn't matter that much if the result is good. As long as the strop is not getting nicked up, and the edge straightening, and not getting rolled, it is fine.

I use a Mastro Livi loom strop and he did a video on his technique. I used to angle the blade but he believes in a 90 degree X stroke where the blade tip actually runs off the strop. I also rolled the blade in my fingers after each lap and he believes in turning the blade using the wrist. I find the Livi way has enabled me to use less laps to polish the blade on his skin side. It also cuts down on any chance of rolling the blade.