Thread: Strop surface

Hey guys, I have a quick question regarding strop surface. I came across the term 'draw' in several posts, which in my understanding in the opposite of glossiness, though I am not sure I got it right. Anyways, after rubbing my new English Bridle strop with the pam of my hand for about 10 days now, it started to show glossiness all over and I am not sure this is a good thing. Should I remove this glossiness with something?

"Glossiness" or shine is not a problem in itself. "Draw" is resistance or a pulling sensation as you pull the blade across the strop. Some like lots of it. Some don't. I do. But I've found that beyond the sensation of pulling, the stropping result is the same. If you feel little draw, just do more laps. I always do 100 laps on leather.

I feel almost no resistance, only smooth gliding and a little hissy sound (extra hollow ground blade)

Originally Posted by Cros

I feel almost no resistance, only smooth gliding and a little hissy sound (extra hollow ground blade)

Cros, in my experience that is natural. I like a light draw in my strops, and some of mine still make the hissing sound on the full hollow blades you note — and it's music to my ears.

Yea, all three of my strops behave that way. The one that is English bridal leather will exhibit increased draw after rubbing with the palm of my hand but only for a half dozen strokes or so.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, all three of my strops behave that way. The one that is English bridal leather will exhibit increased draw after rubbing with the palm of my hand but only for a half dozen strokes or so.

Bob

Hey Bob, what exactly is 'the draw'? I am a bit confused

Originally Posted by Cros

Hey Bob, what exactly is 'the draw'? I am a bit confused

I always took it to mean, rightly or wrongly, that it is the resistance felt to moving the blade along the stropping surface. I could easily stand to be corrected on that though.

Bob

I think its the resistance or friction against the razor while stropping, as everybody has pointed out. Thats what i have considered it to be. As for the gloss or shine, i do not think thats a problem. My latigo strop is now shiny due to palm rubbings and has great draw and i love it. Heavy draw seems to make it easier to have the spine keep contact with strop.

Draw is like love,it is a feeling do's it mean anything?? I do not thing so.