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I am planning to purchase my first strop, which will be a hanging strop. I don't really know what size to get.
I've seen strop widths ranging from 2" to 3". It seems that the 'standard' is 2-1/2".
I've seen strop lengths ranging from 20" to 30", or so with the 'standard' being 24". I assume the 20" strop is for traveling and the 30" strop is for people with very long arms.
Any thoughts?
I have Tony's #1 Latigo in 3" width. I also have a practice strop that's 2 1/2" width and I prefer the 3" as the whole razor can fit comfortably on it and it gives me a little more surface to help keep the razor flat when stropping. I think it's 24" in length leaving approx 20" stropping surface (Tony, if I'm wrong in the measurements, please correct). I'm 6 feet tall with a pretty long arm reach and I find I can easily use most of the stropable length.
I don't think the length really matters at all. Some like the wider strops but some feel the wider strops have a tendency to cup.
I started with a longer strop from Tony M (after a belt) and find that switching to a shorter one for occasional use may be a bit sketchy and requires attention.
Also switching from 3" to narrower will require some learning (the X move)
On the other hand, when stropping I find the X very attractive - maybe because it requires more skill than the straight up and down motion
Cheers
Ivo
It also provides for more contact. In any case I find 2.5 just right.
No way, the 3 inch is the best.. Let me tell you if I had to do the X method of stroping every morning I would have given this up a long time ago. I am not a morning person and it is much easier to use a wider strop when you are tired. As for the length 24 works well for me. :nj
After a while X becomes natural.
You don't have to do X pattern stropping on a 2" strop. Just angle the razor heel leading and make sure you strop whole blade edge over the period you strop for. This method will promote X pattern stropping in time because of it's inherant need to go in this dirrection. Try it. You could just keep the razor square to the strop to be honest, makes no diff. I always strop with a slight angle amd heal leading. I find its a easier action and can stop the dreaded "judder" from happening on lighter blades. I use the reverse when stropping on a pasted hanging strop. I then go toe leading to replicate the hone motion over the blade edge.
PuFF
I have come to strop like Puff (unpasted only) - heel leading - through experimentation with feel. Glad to hear the confirmation.
FTR, I angle when stropping even on Tony's 3" - I like the feel better
Cheers
Ivo
I have a 2.5" practise strop and a 3" honey brown.
The 3" is just sooooo much nicer to work with.
The entire blade fits on the strop, so stropping is very easy and I can build up a nice rythm.
The 2.5" forces me to use an X, which requires much more technique and I have to concentrate hard on each stroke.
I don't mean to imply that learning a smooth X on the strop is useless, but it's a lot easier if you don't have to bother.
I have DOVO's 2 inch wide strop, and I think it is better width than the 3" one. I use half of the X pattern, /, going diagonally.
I believe this width provides the razor's edge with better contact than the 3' wide one...
Nenad
Nenad,
I too started with a narrow one. I had the Illinois #206 which was 2" x maybe 18" or so. Almost all of the Dovo strops are 2" or less as are Jemicos. USA made strops from the old days all seem to settle on the 2 1/2" x 24" standard which is my favorite while many European ones are 2" x 21" or 1 3/4" x 18". These look very small and narrow to me but must have been effective or they would not have lasted as a standard still today.
I still find the 2 1/2" width to be my favorite. Due to uneveness in leather over time it is more likely to have better contact and less prone to cupping. I have not had reports of mine cupping but still prefer narrower over wide. of course I also prefer 2" stones over 3" ones but that's just what I learned on.
Tony
I made my reply to show new guys that the size doesen't matter, it's how you use it... Just like your girlfriends say, boys ;)
In addition of my DOVO strop, I also have one of Tony's masterpieces, his 3" Red No.1, and I use it too. It requires more concentration stropping than the smaller DOVO... Go figure... Besides, all my razors look like 4/8 on it, lol
However, I use it like art piece in my room, and it's a great conversation starter... "Aaah, that strop was custom made for me by this great guy in the States..." :)
cheers,
Nenad
[quote=superfly;95336]I made my reply to show new guys that the size doesen't matter, it's how you use it... Just like your girlfriends say, boys ;)
Well, I decided to test this theory.
It's true! Although I have a wife instead of a girlfriend I didn't seem to make much difference which strop I used, the welts all looked about the same.
They were all big and red and with the swelling you could hardly tell which marks were made by the 2" and which by the 3".
The only reason I could was due to the " X " technique I used when whipping her with the narrower strop.
Of course according to this test linen is totally worthless so who knows?
Also, I need to invest in a paddle strop.
I've included a pic of the wife. We call this one
" YO HOMEY ! Make with da wallet! "
Quote:
Originally Posted by superfly
That what all guys with little equipment say.:roflmao It's not the size of the wand but the skill of the magacian....
Hey, my equipment is no little. :rant: I have Tony's No.1 in 3"Quote:
Originally Posted by RichZ
Nenad
p.s. I was talking about guys with 7/8's and larger trying to overcompensate :w
How about us guys with 3/8 :shrug: :roflmao