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At the recommendation of forum members here i bought this Strop: Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle - Knifecenter.com
It just came in the mail. If you look at it it has 4 different canvases that could be used for stropping. I am of course familiar with the leather. But what's the purpose of the other 3 canvases, and when would I use them?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...g?t=1230572990
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...g?t=1230572969
Excuse me, but I see one canvas and one leather in the pics.
i think they are counting sides
I meant it has four separate places that you could run a blade acrossQuote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
Are the two inside ones useless? and only the leather and canvass on the outside good?
yes, just use the outside surfaces. linen first, leather last.
If you see on the opposite side of the leather part of the strop has those deep groves that I figure are there for the reason.
And in all the videos i see no one stropped with canvass. When is it appropriate to strop with canvass?
you have a canvas and leather side the other two are the backing for the canvas and leather :D
Quote:
Originally Posted by j03
The grooves are part of the russian tanning process, strop on the smooth side. Strop on linen/canvas side first 25-30 strokes, be careful with your technique keep the blade flat, move the razor in the direction of the spine.Be sure to move the razor diagonally along the strop to ensure the entire blade is stropped, creating the beloved X pattern. Then do the same on the front of the leather(smooth side) 30-50 strokes. Before every shave.:gl:
BE SURE TO ROLL THE RAZOR OVER ON THE SPINE AND NOT THE EDGE!
i recieved an illinois 827 strop today.
the rough side of the leather faces out, while the finished side (lighter tan and ribbed in the photos above) is on the inside.
does anyone have experience with these? my 127's have the smooth side out, which is what i had expected.
So, pre-shave: 25-30 strokes on the canvass side, and then 30-50 strokes on the leather side.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
How many strokes post-shave? Do i use the canvass post shave as well?
there's no need to strop until the next time you shave.
Post shave: some people do, just to dry the edge, I dont find it necessary if Ive already dried it with a towel.:gl:
Quote:
Originally Posted by hults
Hults, that's just a charachteristic of the "russian" part of the process. Anytime you see "russian" leather, that doesn't mean it came from russia: it's just the term given for when the rough side is compressed by pressure from the smooth side. It gives a draggier feel often, and can work quite well. I believe that the 827 is Gssixguns everyday strop.
sometimes the smoothside is imprinted with a ||||||||||||||||| pattern like yours has, sometimes its an XXXXXXXXX pattern.
One thing i just noticed was that the two belts aren't parallel. I mean when I hold the handle and pull with the two together (leather and canvass), the belt buckles.
Is this a problem?
These strops take about a week of use to really break in, both the leather and the linen will break in after use....
The rougher stropping surface gives really great feed back while stropping...
I always recommend 25 linen and 50 leather pre-shave... Post shave stropping is a personal thing some do some don't....
The handles being slightly uneven really makes no difference, if it bugs you just hold a single handle and let the other drop...
You strop on the rough side with Russian strops. I use one side of the linen when I strop my razor (everyday) and the other I coated with diamond spray to touch ups. I have had great performace out of this strop. I think that others have had the same experience. Congratulations, nice strop.
Al raz.
Thanks guys! Great advice as always.
I got one more question about this strop though. Upon close examination I notice nicks and a tear in the leather.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...g?t=1230592464
^The tear is deeper and a bit more pronounced in life than the picture shows. It's also rough in that area, and it doesn't show in the picture too well. It looks like it was damaged there. The rest of the strop is smooth. Is this going to be a problem running my blade across?
I am sure that after you use it a couple of times, these would be nothing... ;-) By the way, there is a good thread about stropping technique (flipping the razor or similar). I would strongly recommend that you read it for proper stropping technique. Very often bad stropping technique can lead to dulling the edge of your razors. Keep the strop tight in your hand. It is very important that you do not strop flipping the edge but rather the spine. Also keep the blade flat and do not apply excessive pressure.
Al raz.
Roll the leather between your fingers where the damage is, if it is a cut or tear, return it and get another...... These should last a lifetime and there is no sense in having one start with damage....
It's a bit deeper than the picture shows, and around the area it looks like it was damaged
Anyone dealt with that company before? Do I have to pay for shipping?