Thread: Hanging vs paddle strop

I am a newbie and collecting information for my first purchases. My first question is whether I should get a hanging or paddle strop. Is one better for the newbie to learn on? Your help is appreciated!

Some folks find a paddle strop easier to use. It might help with the learning curve.

Originally Posted by Mephisto

Some folks find a paddle strop easier to use. It might help with the learning curve.

Thank you!

I have both and just started myself. The Paddle strop was easy to use, not sure if I would say easier to use than my Star Shaving Big Daddy strop. But it is what I started with first as I transitioned in a couple of weeks to the hanging strop. I enjoy using the hanging strop more. I did manage to dull my razor on the paddle strop initially by using too much pressure but that can happen with the hanging one also. I think it is easier to use too pressure on the paddle though as it is not as yielding as the hanging one. If I had to do it again, I would have bought just the hanging strop. Though the paddle can be used for CrOx paste which is likely what I will repurpose it for now.

Good luck!

Thank you.

Unless needing to have a compact strop is a consideration, you could also get a hanging strop and lay it flat on the edge of a counter top for stropping. The hanging strop will then serve like a long bench strop, but can still be used as a hanging strop. The use of a hanging strop in this manner provides a lot of control and eliminates concerns related to hanging strop tension while stropping. I make bench strops for pasted stropping and often use my unpasted TM hanging strops laid flat on the edge of my bathroom sink cabinet top.

HTH

Thanks Sheajohnw- I think I will start off with a hanging strop and lay it on the counter to get the stroke down. The purchase a paddle strop later.

Originally Posted by sheajohnw

Unless needing to have a compact strop is a consideration, you could also get a hanging strop and lay it flat on the edge of a counter top for stropping. The hanging strop will then serve like a long bench strop, but can still be used as a hanging strop. The use of a hanging strop in this manner provides a lot of control and eliminates concerns related to hanging strop tension while stropping. I make bench strops for pasted stropping and often use my unpasted TM hanging strops laid flat on the edge of my bathroom sink cabinet top.

HTH

+1 here at least IMO

Welcome to the forum. You have gotten some good advice. An inexpensive hanging strop is a good start to become comfortable stropping with. An outstanding paddle type strop is available here: For Sale - Gem Star Customs scroll down the page to the tabletop strop
and it may be just the ticket to learning to strop. One of our sponsors here is Straight Razor Designs and if you become a dedicated straight razor shaver they have the best selection of strops available to include very nice paddle strops.

DBeard,

I started with hanging strops then switched over to paddle strops

My daily strop is a Neil Miller modular aluminium paddle, and, for me, is the fully equal of any hanging strop that I own (including Tony Miller strops, Torolfs etc.). Simply superb

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ