Thread: Why the linen strop!!!!

My son just found a website that gives a good reason for using the linen side of the strop before the leather. This site claims that the linen 'warms up' the blade so that the leather can more easily remove micro-nicks from the blade!

It's http://coolshaving.com/straight_razor.html

Tom

I mentioned this theory a while back when I was making my first (emergency required) strop:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=4496
but it was rebutted during conversation. the comment about how it works similar to the leather but on a coarser level.

I didn't see any illistrations or links to illustrations mentioned. They don't give science and they also mention removing nicks with the leather side of the strop. I'd have to disagree based on my limited knowledge as My understanding of stropping is to realign the edge. The metal is much harder than the linen or leather and unless it's pasted, the strop shouldn't be removing any metal at all.

It doesn't seem that they have anything more than an opinion and a second or third hand one at that.

I've seen a few references to blade warming, and a few to gross alignment. I do know that going back and forth (linen, then leather) creates greater draw. So I do believe its effective.

I have seen several references to blade warming as well, I was just referring to the way this particular article was written, i.e. poorly, and I would say it was about the least informative directions for stropping and honing I have yet seen, in fact if I am reading them correctly, they would take the edge off of a factory sharp razor rather than improving it.

Why the linen strop!!!!??

Because it works.

Really, as best as I know, the linen has some abrassive quality to it. Regardless, it does work to improve the edge. Some will diagree of course, so at the end of the day you will still have to decide for yourself.

Scott