Thread: Stropping Strategies

I usually do 50/50 linen/leather. I prefer horsehide to latigo, as I don't care for too much draw. If I use pressure it is on the spine with the flip keeping the edge light on the strop. I do an X stroke when I strop. I used to do linen and leather after the hone because it seemed I got a higher percentage of positive HHT results when I did. The 1961 barber manual excerpt recommends leather only following the hone and I began to follow that advice with equal results in the HHT and the shave.

I know exactly what you mean!

Off a coticule especially I can tell when an edge is finished on cotton, a bit of pressure early on - very slightly more than featherweight - until the rough feedback disappears into the edge floating smoothly over the cotton, then I do 20 very light laps and onto leather where I sort of get a suction when the razor is done, sort of like the leather cleans the very surface of the bevel and edge. I don't count the laps usually.

regards Alex