Thread: anyone want to explain "toe leading" a bit more?

Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

i don't understand the diagram
can anyone explain any better?

it looks like its saying start with the toe on the strop and the heel off. then move in i diagonal motion till the toe is off the strop and the heel is on. basically the reverse of what i have most people do when they strop.

i know it's not helpful, but i don't understand it either

I don't know who add that to wiki i am against it. there is message and video on stropping . check this post . person was just learning and training how to strop right see his videos and results will make you happy. gl
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...-practice.html


hope this helps.

I have to agree with hi_bud_gl. That's a debateable technique, and not really necessary.

To explain what's in the wiki....

The basic idea is that if your strop is narrower than your razor, which is normal unless you're using a 3" strop, you can't simply move your razor straight up and down the strop. You have to move it in a diagonal line so that the entire edge is stropped with each stroke.

When you flip the razor and strop the other side, you have to do the same thing, so your razor traces the shape of a very tall "X" over the length of your strop.

Generally, you would start with the razor position so that the heel is completely on the strop, and the toe extending past the far side. Then you would gradually pull the razor to the side during your stroke so that just the toe half of the razor is on the strop by the end of your stroke.

A "toe leading" stropping stroke is just the opposite. You would start with just the toe of the razor resting on the strop, and push the razor further onto the strop during your stroke, so that the heel is resting on the strop by the end of each stroke.

Some people find it easier/more effective, but personally, I find if very unnatural, and it can damage your strop if you're using a razor with a square point.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

I don't know who add that to wiki i am against it.

if nobody cares to fix it it just remains this way.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

there is message and video on stropping .
check this post . person was just learning and training how to strop right see his videos and results will make you happy. gl
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...-practice.html


hope this helps.

the advantage of a wiki is that it can be improved to only have correct information, unlike threads in the forum.

Hi there,

I agree with Bud although I don't know too much about stropping. I tried toe leading at first, then after some advice from Bud I tried starting the stropping motion with the whole blade on the strop. It is A LOT eaiser to strop the second way. I nicked my strop (newspaper) less and found that if you start the stroke with the whole blade on the strop, there is greater stability than with only the toe on the strop at first.

Happy Stropping!