Thread: Building Draw and different strops

I find that building a draw is key to an ultra smooth sharp edge for a nice close shave. I sometimes use a little extra pressure to build the draw up and I have also found that alternating between linen and leather can build a draw up without pressure, much the same way you can hone on 4/8K without using pressure, thus keeping the edge straighter, easier.

I have some strops that don't draw and some that do, so I wonder about others opinions and issues on this. Additionally, are there any other techniques you guys use to build draw that I haven't thought of?

I've found that rubbing the leather with your hand before stropping helps get the draw going easier. It seems that draw is a combination of the edge becoming more aligned and some factor in the leather, maybe heat, maybe a slight nap being raised. Without hand dressing it seems to take 10 or 15 strokes before I can feel much draw. With it the draw is almost immediate.

Josh

Excellent! I shall try that!

I use a Cabinet scraper burnishing tool to get the strop up to a good draw sometimes and for breaking in. This tool is nothing more than a "file" hard piece of round polished bar with a handle. I use it like a razor over the strop very fast till the strop gets warm and the nap comes up. You will notice that the burnisher gets very hot also. The burnisher I prefer is an oval shape in cross section with rounded edges. Using this burnisher on its edge brings up the nap and flat on the oval gets the surface good and supple producing draw.

PuFF

I find some of my softer stropps like my DD 30 never have draw while my harder ones like Tony's #1 has loads of it. I think the surface of the leather has the most to do with it.

OK - but does a strop with more draw sharpen better/faster/sharper, or does it just have more draw?

I've only got a Tony Miller Latigo and one of his practice strops, which appears to be the same leather and has similar draw.

-whatever

-Lou