Thread: for the Experts

Linen is not rough leather. There is debate over the use of linen whether it helps or hurts an edge. There is no debate on the rough leather side. Don't use it. The finished, smooth side is the only one you should use for stropping. Linen is optional in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Gammaray

Linen is not rough leather. There is debate over the use of linen whether it helps or hurts an edge. There is no debate on the rough leather side. Don't use it. The finished, smooth side is the only one you should use for stropping. Linen is optional in my opinion.

Then what would the rough leather be used for if anything :-)

Originally Posted by JimBob

Then what would the rough leather be used for if anything :-)

The rough side is just ‘unfinished’ just like the inside of a leather belt. Also, a cowhide is ‘split’ in half these days and the inner layer is used to make ‘collagen’ ‘casings’ for sausages!

There is no reason for a manufacturer to spend time and resources on finishing something that really doesn’t need it!

I do have a Vintage Strop that is finished on both sides, but they are finished differently.

I'm new and maybe several shaves + stropping sessions isn't much to comment by, but I have found a cheap basic leather only strop to work fine so far. I've paid very careful attention to my stropping and followed mainly the advice from the stropping videos on this website. If it's anything to go by, I'd recommend giving those videos a watch if you haven't

Originally Posted by JimBob

Then what would the rough leather be used for if anything :-)

The rough side of the strop is not used for anything, except where some may rarely adhere a linen layer. However, I have never seen this done. Most of the best strops come with a separate hanging linen with the finished leather piece. Enjoy.

Guess I'm lazy. I only do 20 strokes before shaving. And maybe 20 afterwards for cleaning. But the razor stays sharp enough for shaving.