Thread: Hanging or Paddle???

Hey all,

Just wondering which is best for a noob, hanging or paddle, just got a new dovo ebenholz and dont know which would suit a beginner to the action of the strop?

Just gotta get the strop, then its on to my maiden shave!

Any advice and product recommendations will be welcomed

Thanks

You may have better results with a strap laid flat on the side of the table or supported on something that functions as a "paddle" for the strop. You can purchase a hanging strop and, with that method, emulate a paddle strop and get the best of both worlds.

It is easier to start with a paddle strop. I have both and use both. If you use a paddle strop or lay your strop flat, you have to make sure it has sufficient draw to get the job done. I increased draw on mine by covering it with lather, letting it dry during the day, and wiping off the excess.

Good luck and welcome!

for a noob i would suggest a paddle its just less that can go wrong with a paddle

This is kind of like the round point versus square point issue, it is whatever you learn with. One is as beneficial as the other. I like the hanging strops, its just a matter of convenience and feedback.

Both will get your blade ready to use if employed correctly, both will also wipe your shaving edge off if used incorrectly.

It is NEVER good practice to push your razor into a strop, but if you happen to do so accidentally, a hanging strop will be more forgiving than a paddle.

Again, concentrate on good stropping technique (no pressure, spine always in contact with the stropping surface, rotate on the spine) and you will be rewarded no matter what type of strop you have!

-Rob

Ghostmutt,

I would suggest getting both

I suspect that I am in the minority of straight razor shavers that use paddle strops exclusively.

I found, for me, that stropping on them was more natural and easier than with a hanger.

I have, use and like the SRP Paddle and Mr Neil Millers (www.strop-shop.co.uk) paddles, especially his aluminium modular paddle.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

This is kind of like the round point versus square point issue, it is whatever you learn with. One is as beneficial as the other. I like the hanging strops, its just a matter of convenience and feedback.

I am in agreement on that.This world doesn't have a lot of hard an fast rules as it is very individual .

There is an exception to every rule. Of course, if "There is an exception to every rule." is stated as a rule, and there must be an exception to every rule, then that rule doesn't hold true and has exceptions. If there is no rule without exceptions, then "There is an exception to every rule." is just false.

Now, ponder THAT while you're starting your next straight shave.

Get the modular paddle from SRD, it's awesome! If you nick it or tear up the leather you can just buy another leather pad for it for 15 or 20 bucks. I started out with cheap hanging strops but wish I would of had a paddle at first, the paddle seems to offer less oppurtunity to do the "wrong" thing when stropping.

Both have their advantages. With a paddle you don't ahve to worry about holding tension on the strop to keep the lether taught. However, a hanging is more forgiving if you press the razor into it. Ultimately you should be able to learn fine with either as long as you take time and care while doing so. I learned with a hanging strop, and while it has a couple nicks in it, it is still very much usable today. My paddle strop is pretty much exclusively used as my travel strop now.