Thread: Light draw vs heavy draw

The problem is with a light draw strop you use almost no effort to move the razor over it. With a heavy draw you are applying pressure whether you like it or not. So, is it the draw that makes the difference or the extra pressure you are wielding. I suspect it's the pressure and not the finish itself.

The only way to test that is with a stropping machine where you can dial in the amount of pressure exerted and I've never seen one of those.

It's my opinion that the draw itself has no measurable difference in how well or poorly it maintains the edge, but it most certainly makes a difference in my stropping stroke. I have SRD Latigo (heavy), Scrupleworks Oil Tanned Horween Horsehide (medium), Tony Miller Horsehide (light) and Kanoyama Cordovan (super light) and a Scrupleworks Swedish Bridle coming (no idea where that is going to fit in). Either end of the spectrum leaves me tentative; too heavy and I feel the blade is going to get pulled from my hand and too light feels like it's not doing anything. Medium feels best and as a result my stroke is most consistent. Consistent has to yield a better result than tentative.

That's all I've got on this subject...

I use the SRD strop and no issue. I also have used/use the Herold Solingen strop for my pasted strop. Great results on both. The Herold Solingen's are a lighter draw however.

I mainly use two strops. A starshaving "big daddy" with English bridle and a vintage Hoffritz horse shell. I prefer the feel and the extra draw of the English bridle, but my blades always seem to shave a little better coming off of the horse. I mainly use the Star strop if a blade is fresh off the hones(80 laps) and finish it up with 20 strokes on the Hofftritz. Not sure why I get a better edge off of the horse though. Could be the lighter draw or the pressure I use. I just know it makes a difference.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I do know it makes a difference to strop before and after the shave. I skipped the after once and won't do that again.

I used to until I somehow left a bead of water on a blade and it rusted. Since then I always strop after if only to make sure I don't leave any water on the bevel.

My srd latigo strop worked way better after I lathered and cleaned it. A whole lot of red dye came off it and marginally increased draw. It was surprising how much more effective the strop was after a cleaning.

I would have to agree on cleaning the SRD Latigo. Mine started getting almost sticky after about a month and I cleaned it with just a warm damp cloth and got all kinds of dye and wax or grease off of it. After, it seemed to work 100% better for me and I have cleaned it a couple more times. The draw is not as heavy now and feels really good. I really do like the strop but it needed cleaning to really shine.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

...I skipped the after once and won't do that again...

I share your pain. I once skipped the light fantastic, won't do that again either...

Regards,
Neil

True that Latigo works best when the surface is broken in by a denaturate and scrape till it resemble a good Russian finish.