Thread: Roo strop

I am curious to try the Roo strop sold by Straight Razor Designs. One review said the strop was thin and cupped on the edges and you had to be careful or you'd cut the strop. Anyone else experience cupping with this strop? Their Premium IV (long) English Bridle Leather strop has served me well for the last 4+ years. Just looking to try something different.

I strated with a three inch English bridle, and proceeded to tear it all to hades as a newb.
I then purchased a Roo. I love it. It's tough, yet thin. It gives me better feedback.
I can get a great tug on to tighten it up while stopping.
It can be rolled up easier for traveling.
Great strop, so great I have a second on hand when and if this one wears out.
Thinking of getting a thrid just too have because I don't want to ever go without this leather again.

Roo is very thin and flexible so even if slightly cupped when stropping it would conform to the razor without issue. There are plenty of threads on the roo from srd and the concensus seems to be that it is a good strop

not SRD but my Roo is 0.8 to 1.2mm thick
mine is 30" x 3" & rolls up to about 1 1/2" diameter

mine doesn't cup as yet (8 months old) but if it did cup it would not matter much as the leather is very thin & subtle & it will flex to the shape of the razor very easily wile stropping

I have the SRD Roo strop from when they were first brought on board. Never an issue with
cupping. Thin and strong leather with feedback that I like. I would always recommend this strop.

Originally Posted by karlej

I am curious to try the Roo strop sold by Straight Razor Designs. One review said the strop was thin and cupped on the edges and you had to be careful or you'd cut the strop. Anyone else experience cupping with this strop? Their Premium IV (long) English Bridle Leather strop has served me well for the last 4+ years. Just looking to try something different.

Yeah, when I first received mine, I thought they had forgot to send the strop "replacement piece" which I order to try different materials. I thought it was a divider piece for separating the leather pieces.

After realizing that it was the actual strop, I worried it would be too easy to cut through if someone had a mis-step. Oz--Onimaru assured us that it was a very tough, although thin leather, and would hold up. He was "Right On"!!

It's a very tough...thin...leather and very supple. It conforms more to the blade than any other leather I'm aware of. Very forgiving...very tough...and the light draw and performance are, to my liking....right on!

I highly recommend it!

Regards,

Howard

Edit: I haven't experienced cupping, but I suspect that pulling too hard will cause such. I lay the strop just in front of the handle accessories over my index finger and use just enough pull to level the strop...barely. A 1/2" to a little more slack when stropping, from the light pressure of the blade, seems to work very well.

Made my own recently and it is real nice leather, works a treat. Mine is cupping slightly at 3 inch, but like others have said not a problem at all, it just forms to the edge of the razor. Definitely recommend trying it.

Mine also is 3 inch and homemade. It does cup slightly but have no trouble with it or performing x strokes etc. As long as the razor is flat on the strop the strop will be flat

If only I had actual need of a new strop! I really want to try a roo. From what I've heard it seems to be similar to a genuine cordovan shell strop. Thin, tough and somehow very very effective. I want one, but I'll have to wait till I can justify the expense hahah (the trouble with straight shaving always!!!!)

Originally Posted by ColdbyDesign

If only I had actual need of a new strop! I really want to try a roo. From what I've heard it seems to be similar to a genuine cordovan shell strop. Thin, tough and somehow very very effective. I want one, but I'll have to wait till I can justify the expense hahah (the trouble with straight shaving always!!!!)

I don't think you can compare it to Cordovan. I have both a 2.5" roo and the cordovan from Neil Miller, the roo has far more draw. Incidentally, despite being a pretty experienced stropper when I bought it, I did notice that I'd caused quite a few nicks at the bottom - I put this down to the fact that it is very thin and maybe I wasn't using enough tension. They sanded out OK but I now tend to use this one with a drop of neatsfoot oil added for cleaning the edge after shaving - it also deposits a hint of oil on the bevel which is good in my opinion.