Thread: How do you strop

I have to run, I have company. What I've noticed is that this sweet spot that is mentioned by BeBerlin is very important.

What I also believe is that there are two paths to this sweet spot. Either through very mild pressure or mild deflection. What has been puzzling me is which is better. I think the answer is they both work great. But you have to know how to find both. Or atleast one.

I am wondering now, as I have often thought, that stropping is actually a very mild controlled second bevel.

Gotta go, but thanx guys very much for this thread and poll responses. I feel like I have finally unlocked the secret to stropping that I have been trying to get at; the what and why. You guys have articulated and confirmed what I have been thinking about.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I am wondering now, as I have often thought, that stropping is actually a very mild controlled second bevel.

Personally, I believe that is why stropping on linen is beneficial and important before hitting the leather for the final "polish".

Yes, its possible. I have to consider how I can confirm this.

I do the taught with almost no pressure approach. I'm still pretty new and only have one strop and one shaveable razor so I've found what works for me (after reading other posts and the wiki info) and just went with it.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

I think that strops have a sweet spot.

Originally Posted by zepplin

The amount of this slight deflection depends upon the grind of the blade. I let the blade determine the deflection by feel and sound.

Originally Posted by matt321

I use just enough pressure to keep the spine firmly against the strop.

There that's what I do...

After reading this thread, I've tried the slight deflection without pressure stropping approach and it seems to improved the edge on my razors. I mainly have old sheffield blades that required the rolling X pattern on the hone. The blade might have a better contact with the strop when the later is slightly deflected since the spine width vary slightly.

Where's the option for stropping edge-first?