Thread: A Quick Spine Roll Question

And the quick question is: Why do it?

When stropping your razor, you always roll the razor over on its spine before beginning the next stroke. Why is that?

Rolling is quicker than lifting. You roll on the spine, because rolling on the edge would dull the razor.

Because if you lift the spine you will roll the sharpened edge over the leather,dulling the edge.

The answers above are my reason for flipping the razor on the spine along with protecting the strop for slices, cuts and nicks, most of the time. As with most replies to questions on SRP, the answers are proven to reduce the risk of damage and provide the best results. The way you do it is totally up to you but I suggest the recommended way to start with. Once you get that down you can deviate and the reasons may become apparent.

What previous folk said
and.....

As long as the spine/back of the razor is on
the strop all you have to do is control the direction.

If you lift the razor, when you set it down spine and edge
near the same time the risk of driving the sharp edge
into the strop is a lot larger.

To some degree it is like karate class. You suffer as a beginner to do
it "correctly" and know that your natural swing has more power and speed.
Then you watch a tough man boxing match and watch an amateur throw
a punch and dislocate his shoulder at the same time. His swing is --
that same natural swing that the instructor wants me to forget
and now I know why.