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I've seen comments from Lynn Abrams and others that they only use leather to strop. I've tried it several times, and I've always felt that shave wasn't as smooth as when I used the Linen or Webbing, first. I suspect that it's because my technique isn't up to snuff, but I also wonder if I might be imagining the difference. Has anyone else had similar experiences? Thanks in advance.
I generally do 7-10 laps on the linen/webbing side of the strop, then go to leather for 40-50. After I shave and dry the razor with a tissue (including between the scales) I do 5 on the linen/webbing and 20-30 on the leather.
This is one of those things that is individual to each person. Some would never strop on leather if they didn't precede that with linen or some cloth. Some folks have no use for the cloth. I use linen. I feel it improves the edge.
I think that there is a lot of art in stropping, differences on the razor are often subtle, and are affected by stropping technique.
I do 30 linen and 60 leather on my TM 2.5 latigo strop after each shave. I think that the linen helps a lot and the result on leather alone is not as good for me. I am fussy about the surface of this strop and wipe it in one direction only with the palm of my hand after each use. It took me two years to learn how to strop consistently and to keep the strop surface smooth looking with a consistent draw. However, some improvements may be only my imagination.
I think that stropping technique and strop maintenance sometimes becomes ritual when we find something that seems to be working well for us.
What works for the average shaver is not necessarily what works best for the pro who has made/honed thousands of razors. Watch the video of Mastro Livi honing for an example.
I always do linen/webbing/felt before leather, that is what works for me. The way I see it, if you feel that the blade feels smoother after you use the linen (even if it is just your imagination) then keep doing it that way. After all it only adds a few seconds to your routine
I always strop on linen first before leather. IMO it helps with edge longevity. After a few years of experimentation I've settled on 20 linen for hollow grinds, and 30-40 for heavy grinds; then it's off to the leather. Works great for me.
I discontinued stropping on webbing a year or so ago after noticing some newly-honed blades coming off the webbing looking micro-chipped. I couldn't prove it was the webbing, but after it happened twice on a nice 8/8 Middleton, I started stropping just with leather and never had another problem. Stropping on leather seems milder to me, and my shaves are still just fine.
I always do 15 to 20 on linen then 40 to 50 on leather. Seems to work for me. YMMV.
Im for linen then leather as I think it works better. Usually 25-35 linen and 50-70 leather.