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Hello all,
I am curious why some strops that I have been looking at offer a leather side and then from what I am gathering have fabric side as well, such as cotton.
Why have a fabric side?
Is it necessary?
What does the fabric offer that the leather does not?
I'm starting to look into stropping now, I have yet to do it.
Josh
There are a few ideas. I believe the one that suggests that the greater friction it creates warms the very fine edge & allows the leather to re-align it better.
It's also great after a shave to ensure the delicate edge is perfectly dry & no damage will occur due to dampness while it's waiting to be used again.
I have also read that the linen side has a slight abrasive quality to it which helps refine the edge a bit.
I understand it's also good for testing for an over honed edge. Do 10-20 laps after your done honing and check the edge with a scope if you have one.
If nothing else it adds one more step to your routine. And if I've learned anything around here it's that we love our shaving routines.
There are a lot of different opinions on this topic...
It removes the microscopic corrosion that accumulates during the shave and while it's resting overnight (even if you oil it), and it also polishes and sharpens the edge.Quote:
Originally Posted by TJoshX
No. I believe that the latigo type leathers can also remove the corrosion, and the sharpening and polishing can be done with hones and pasted paddles. This seems to be the preferred approach, FWIW.Quote:
Originally Posted by TJoshX
The leather side does not seem to remove enough metal to usefully sharpen the razor. AFAICT it merely aligns the edge and in the case of latigo or the leather strops with the pressed-in pattern it likely pulls off the corrosion as well. Smooth leather does a better job of aligning the edge than either cloth or textured leather.Quote:
Originally Posted by TJoshX
Looks like all the points have been hit....
Just some of my own personal thoughts to add...
If you look at a well used linen strop you will find some black and reddish streaking in the linen, that is corrosion, I would rather have it there then embedded in the leather...
I am not all that convinced that the linen actually "sharpens", I do however whole heartedly believe that 25/50 Linen/Leather before shaving does help to keep the edge at it's best, the longest...
I also know for a fact, that linen stropping after the hones will find a problem edge very quickly if there is any weakness to that edge you will find it by looking at the edge under magnification after the linen pretty easy...
Keep in mind that much of shavedom is personal preference, so try things a few ways, and stick with what works best for you....
I would add that IMHO that my homemade canvas strop performs better when I rubbed colgate white shave soap into it.
There was just a night and day difference when I added that little bit of change.
No idea why.
Quote:
Originally Posted by singlewedge
I've noticed this too with soap/beeswax/starch/etc (call it "stuff") , and I've got a couple of theories:
1) the "stuff" stiffens the fibers so they compress less.
2) the "stuff" cuts down on the spring in the fibers so they spring back up more slowly after the blade passes, reducing the rounding effect on the edge.
3) the "stuff" fills in the ribs in the surface of the cloth, reducing the bouncing and vibrating a bit.
4) the "stuff" is alkaline, and low levels of alkalinity retards corrosion.
I am not sure about that, I just know that it really sharpens the edge. I mean sharpens. It takes a hair puller and 50/100 canvas to leather, whoa mama.
Serious difference. BTW there is no black or other particulate that is visible on the canvas.
Beats me then. BTW all my strops that have seen serious use have black or red streaks on them at the high spots. My TM linen-covered paddle strop doesn't have any high spots, but it has a black streak running down the right side of the canvas just like you get on a hone if you're a bit careless with the pressure. It's not soaped though, since I was worried about the effect on the glue holding the linen to the paddle.
Canvas will put a wicked edge on a razor. If I strop too much it's easy to get it too sharp for comfort.
My strop only has leather and so I never use linen first.
From what I've read in this thread it is to heat the blade, dry it, and also remove dust/corrosion particles? If this is the case could you just run the blade under hot water and dry before stropping (this is for the heat)? Also does it have to be linen? What if you stretched cotton over your strop? or perhaps chamois leather? I hear that is the best for removing water/dust/residue. Sorry if this sounds silly but I'm a newbie to all this.
I am going to try 8.0 oz linen next and see how that compares.
If you want comfortable and close shaves, strop on linen. Does it make a difference? Heck yes.
But does it "put a wicked edge" on the blade?
mparker,
Do you use linen or cotton canvas? And what is AFAICT? I've got AFAIK down, but I'm stuck on the CT suffix, Doncha Know.
SLASFSLIMNSSA -- still lost at sea for so long I may never see shore again :cry:
I gotta start learning how to text, but then I'd have to get some thing to text upon. OK!! Another acquisition deficiency. :rofl2:
Both.
AFAICT is the indefinite form of AFAIK, = As Far As I Can Tell
So this seems to be a matter of opinion, but how pertinent is pasting a strop? When I did my initial research, I was under the impression that pasting a strop was a preference so that you didn't have to hone as often. However, I feel that most members who do hone also paste. Is pasting a necessity like stropping? Also, I just purchased a Tony Miller strop and don't want to paste the linen side if I don't have to. If I own a polishing stone, do I still need to paste?
Most have a pasted strop, an unpasted strop and a leather strop.
Others have a pasted strop, unpasted strop, Latigo and horsehide strop.
The combination is endless.
I had a pasted canvas strop until I made my own. Now I have a pasted paddle as part of my honing series.
Chalk. Try it.Quote:
Originally Posted by singlewedge
I bought some CrO from ChrisL for $4 and spent another $4 or so on a block of balsa from a hobby shop. When my str8s start to pull a bit, I give them 5 laps on the CrO and they're shave ready again. It's quick, inexpensive, and it works. Eventually, the CrO won't refresh the blade and I'll have to touch it up on my Chinese 12k.
By having the CrO balsa strop, I can keep my linen strop unpasted for daily use. BTW, my linen has the black streak. :gl:
My linen strop also has a lot of black streaks - maybe I should be using toothpaste on it, it couldn't hurt to try, could it? :shrug:
I've been attempting to sharpen my two sacrificial razors while waiting for my professionally honed razor to arrive. I just can't seem to get to the point of a comfortable shave so I went back to the barbers supply store where I purchased my strop to get some CrO or other dressing. The owner doesn't carry CrO and claimed I didn't need it. He told me to use the linen. He claims to only use a carbundum hone (naturals are too slow), linen and leather. He then tried to sell me his sharpening tutoral on CD. I declined saying videos are available online. He went on to rag about the guy stropping his razor in the bathroom (you tube) saying I'd never get my razor sharp doing it that way. Perhaps I should have had him sharpen one of my razors on the condition I could watch but by this point I didn't have too much faith in him. Is it possible to produce a fine edge off a corbundum hone and finished with only linen and leather?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bladerunner
SHHHHHHHH That's a secret :w
Anything is possible, I just don't have that kind of time on my handsQuote:
Originally Posted by beenpickin
Mumms the word :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
I suspect that he has facial skin of iron.Quote:
Originally Posted by beenpickin
Greetings,
quick question:
When using the leather and the canvas strops, which should I use first and which should I use last?
Cheers,
Griz
The linen or canvas should be used first. Finish on leather to burnish the edge.
Canvas is more abrasive than linen. Most prefer using linen for everyday stropping.
I usually use canvas after honing to refine the edge, then linen followed by leather.
Thanks!
After reading further, it seems as if there are different kinds of abrasive pastes that some folks use with the canvas strops. Options galore.
Cheers,
Griz
Not any more.Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
There is but these are usually to refresh a lagging edge not for daily useQuote:
Originally Posted by mrtgrizzly
My strop's other part is felt rather than linen. I have paste on the inside and do 25 laps on the unpasted side after each shave. Then 50 laps on the leather. I refresh my edge weekly with 3 laps on a 12k stone and 10 laps on the paste, then 25/50 on the unpasted/leather.