Thread: Hanging Strop Size?

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.

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.