Thread: Some simple strop questions

Here's the strop that I have.
Obviously, I will need to secure the end where the two different materials converge... but with what, and how high?
Will a robe hook do the trick?
Note that there is a clasp, and then a steel ring. I assume that means the ring is supposed to be the point of attachment, but I'm not sure.

Secondly, the canvas vs. the leather... can anybody clarify when to use which?
One of the videos on the stropping wiki page shows Seraphim working on one side of the strop, (which sounds like canvas) and then he flips it over and finishes it on the leather.
I couldn't find anything on the wiki page that talked about using one material over another so I am once again confused.
(okay, that's my one emoticon limit)

Any help would be appreciated!

something around waist level seems to work well for most of us. I hang mine on one of the towel bars. you can attach it any way it would stay there. I have a leather shoe-string type of look around the bar and the hooks attach to it.
you first strop on the canvas for say 25-50 round-trip laps and then have another say 50 on the leather side.

Waist high for me using a door knob. I use a cable tie to attach the clip. Here is a barber text out of the Wiki with a lot of good info on stropping and on honing.

Originally Posted by gugi

something around waist level seems to work well for most of us. I hang mine on one of the towel bars. you can attach it any way it would stay there. I have a leather shoe-string type of look around the bar and the hooks attach to it.
you first strop on the canvas for say 25-50 round-trip laps and then have another say 50 on the leather side.

I do the exact same thing as gugi, except that I do 20 on canvas and 60 on the leather, and my towel bars are closer to chest-high than waist high for me. (might have something to do with only being 5'5") I even use a piece of a boot-string to tie it to my towel bar.

As far as I know, the height you mount it at really doesn't matter. I've seen folks hang them at eye level and strop up and down. What's important is that you hang it so that you can strop comfortably and reliably. So, I'd start with doorknob/towel bar height like most folks here do, and if you find it uncomfortable for any reason, try moving up or down.

Mine is mounted halfway between waist and pec high, that works best for me. I put a 2.5" screw into a stud to mount the towel hook, so I can really lean on that strop if I want to.


I do about 20 on linen and about 30 on leather, maybe even double that, depending on how the razor feels on "the flip", and how awake I am in the morning.

Some great suggestions, thanks all!

One more question - with the leather, there is a finished side and a rougher side. Do you ever use the rough side?

Originally Posted by KCavity

Some great suggestions, thanks all!

One more question - with the leather, there is a finished side and a rougher side. Do you ever use the rough side?

I dont, but some guys sand it a little and paste that side. I have been to spooky about cross contamination to do that though.

Originally Posted by KCavity

Some great suggestions, thanks all!

One more question - with the leather, there is a finished side and a rougher side. Do you ever use the rough side?

I've wondered the same thing. I've just received a Miller strop set-up with a apprentice strop, which doesn't have a cotton/linen side, and I would hate to slice up the linen. So...couldn't the rough side be used instead, at least until it smooths out? I can see it's not as rough as the linen I have.

Kev

Linen first and the smooth side of the leather second is the traditional method. As in most things you can experiment and see how different options work for you and post your results.