Thread: SRD Strop vs SRD Lynn Abrams Paddle

For a beginner, which of these would you recommend for daily stropping? SRD Premium I or SRD Lynn Abrams Modular Paddle? Which would be the best bang for your buck and easiest to learn to strop for a beginner? Are there any advantages one has over the other? Thanks in advance for the responses.

I presume you have read their respective reviews in Strop Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums ? If not, you should. If you intend to only maintain a few razors, the Premium I and a CrO pasted balsa hone might be the better alternative. But the paddle is big enough to serve as a daily strop.

Yes I have read the reviews on these strops. In fact the great reviews on these strops are the reason I have narrowed my decision to these two. I guess what I am trying to ask experienced shavers is whether they feel the paddle would limit the amount of mistakes a beginner makes in stropping. I am leaning more towards the paddle for convenience purposes. I am also assuming a replacement pad for the paddle would cost less than a replacement strop of comparable material when nicks occur. Or would it be better in the long run to learn with a regular strop, make the mistakes a beginner usually makes, and learn the good ol' fashioned way? Thanks!

The paddle is indeed convenient. Personally, I would miss the webbed fabric, though. Probably a matter of preference. I like them both equally well, but I use them as single purpose strops, ie the paddle is all sprayed and pasted up.

Damian,

I am one of probably a minority that uses paddle strops (SRD & Neil Miller) almost exclusively for my daily stropping. I do use a 3" linen hanger from Neil Miller to start, but then its paddles all the way

I just get on better with paddles, and they are mighty convenient for travel use.

Both the SRD (modular and standard) & Neil Miller paddles are plenty big enough for highly effective daily use

If you can, please try stropping with both hanging and paddle strops, and see which you prefer. Both types, when used correctly, can give superb results.

If you are on a budget, you could use the coarser leather side of the SRD paddle in lieu of fabric.

Good luck

Best regards

Russ