Just got my strop from Tony

[kvidoo]

Hi everybody,

Just got my strop from Tony today. Great stuff. The one he sent me is a black 3". Can't wait to use it. He said it was a seconds strop but it is top notch. He also said the black leather never caught on but this thing is great.

Keaton

[AFDavis11]

Oh sure, when I asked him for a black strop he said he didn't have any....mmmmm, I see where I stand now... :-)

[Tony Miller]

Yeah, the strop color thing surprised me. My brown Latigo seems to be everyones favorite but I have found some other leather that is more like what Dovo and Jemico uses. One type came in the amber colored leather the second is the black. I used both in my kits and everyone loved them. When listed separately everyone e-mailed and asked when I would sell the brown ones again!

Oddly the black and the amber are more expensive leathers but do have a little less draw that the latigo. Keaton's strop is not a second but from the black leather I was not planning to sell any longer once gone.

I wondor how much color plays as a factor in other marketing. That new Fusion looks terrible to me as I expect a razor to be black and silver, not orange and blue. (Of course I also don't expect it to have a gazillion blades either <g>)

Tony

[diablonyc2]

Hey Tony,

I have a question -- I have a new Dovo SS being sharpend by Lynn coming my way and have a regular strop (No paste).

What kind of Strop(s) do u recommend to keep it sharp? The 4 sided paddle seems logical--but how many sides are with Paste? (Sorry --it is a newbie question).

John

[JLStorm]

Hey Tony,

I have a question -- I have a new Dovo SS being sharpend by Lynn coming my way and have a regular strop (No paste).

What kind of Strop(s) do u recommend to keep it sharp? The 4 sided paddle seems logical--but how many sides are with Paste? (Sorry --it is a newbie question).

John

ooh ooh...I think I know the answer to this one!

I am guessing that the recommended stropping equipment would be:
1. 3" Hairloom Latigo with linen back
2. 4 sided paddle strop, smooth, with all 4 sides pre pasted from 3 to .25 microns.

Did I get it right?????

[kvidoo]

AF you just have to ask the right questions. What is the cheapest 3" strop? This is leather he thought he couldn't get rid of any other way. But hey it good for me and I like it.

[diablonyc2]

I think I have a Strop with a linin back already -- but that paddle with all the diff pastes seems like it is missing from collection.

Quick ADDITIONAL Question -- once paste is applied...how often dou need to re-apply it?

My razor should arrive next week and we will see how well my "first time" is. If I have an issue--I will have to ask Micheal Jackson where he got his nose from.

[JLStorm]

I think I have a Strop with a linin back already -- but that paddle with all the diff pastes seems like it is missing from collection.

Quick ADDITIONAL Question -- once paste is applied...how often dou need to re-apply it?

My razor should arrive next week and we will see how well my "first time" is. If I have an issue--I will have to ask Micheal Jackson where he got his nose from.

If you have any young boys you would like to put up for collateral, he might even let you borrow his nose!

[Johnny Angel]

What is the advantage of 'draw' on a strop?

[robertlampo]

Johnny, here is a post I saved from Alan (AFDavis):

Thats exactly the problem...the razor when properly stropped and properly honed will with a little pressure and proper technique begin to draw on the strop. It'll start to feel like its dragging instead of smoothly flying down the strop. This is the feeling you get when your strop is actually stropping. Imagine trying to align a piece of steel with a compressed piece of leather. It ain't gonna happen just by waving the blade over the strop. You need to hold the strop TAUGHT so it creates a "grabbing" surface and as the blade becomes aligned it starts to drag on the strop, for me usually after about 10-20 passes. If the razor is really sharp it'll draw with little to no pressure. I use pressure but my blades aren't always honed to perfection. I slowly add pressure until I get the drawing action. Either way, no draw, no stropping action. Which is why most guys think shaving with a straight isn't as smooth as a DE. They don't strop correctly. The edge becomes perfectly aligned and then the bevel edge starts catching on the leather hone and creates drag and feels like a sticking feeling. For me this is the KEY indicator that the blade is in fact shave ready. No other test is needed because an inproperly honed blade will never produce any draw. Make sense?

Understanding the sense of draw and what it feels like is a huge important step in being able to shave with a straight razor, probably more important then knowing how to hone.

That's the best description I've heard so far.

-Rob