Thread: Differences in strop material? What is high draw and low draw?

Going to be picking up a razor and strop set from SRD. Just going to stick with the Dovo Best, but not sure about what strop material to get. I'm definitely going to upgrade to a 3" strop and have stropped a straight razor in the past and always know there is a risk of damaging a strop, but the little time I did own a straight razor in the past never ruined the strop. Plus, the SRD strops are modular, so if it does get damaged it can be replaced.

So my question is, what are the differences/advantages/disadvantages between the following strop materials:

Latigo
Premium I
Premium II
Premium III buffalo
Premium IV English Bridle
Horsehide

Also, what type of webbing is preferred?

Finally, what does 'high draw' and 'low draw' refer to?

"Draw" is the amount of pull or resistance as you strop your razor. I like lots of it. I use the English Bridle on a paddle strop but add lather to it as a treatment to increase draw. Most here frown upon that. You may be able to do just fine with the strop as it is. Just a personal preference here.

I have both the Latigo and Kangaroo strop from SRD in 3 inch width. The difference in draw/resistance is night and day with the latigo being quite heavy, the kangaroo strop is quite slick and has a light draw. I've got the cotton/canvas and the webbing fabrics as well. Both do their job well, the cotton canvas takes some time to get it broken in as does the latigo strop. The webbing looks like car seatbelts but a coarser weave, the cotton canvas looks like...umm canvas.

Horsehide = light draw, Latigo = heavy draw, Premium 1 = just right ....... IMHO ..... YMMV

I like linen for the second component ..... YMMV there too