Thread: Interesting strop behavior

I have a no1 honeybrown heirloom that I use regularly.
I also have the starter strop that came with it. it has a hard, brown surface.

After some experimenting I discovered that the starter strop is quite good at refreshing a blade that is getting dull.
I have tested this with my Joseph Rodgers frameback that I honed several months ago.

It hasn't been touched up since, but I have found out that if it gets too dull, I can strop 30/40 times with some pressure on the starter strop and it is back to shaveready.
The heirloom doesn't do that. it can only smoothen an edge that is sharp, but once an edge is getting duller, there is nothing it can do about it (with my rather basic stropping technique, that is)

The funny thing is that I haven't treated the strop with anything, so it must have some inherent abrasive qualities. It does make a rasping sound while stropping.

Anyone else have similar experiences?

I also have one of those starter strops. It came with the Horsehide strop but I haven't used it yet. I don't see how it could really sharpen a blade afterall its plain leather and mine is still pretty smooth. I would guess its more the pressure thats doing it. Try using the pressure on the better strop and see what happens.

First so we don't have confusion <g> I make starter strops like my #4 which are all the Honey Brown leather and should not be abrasive. This is good leather, identical to what is in my #1 Bests just with no linen and lesser hardware. These I sell at $23.95 and are not the ones I give away. Starter or Beginner strops are not the ones included with the #1 Bests.

What comes with my #1 Best strops are "seconds". Strops which due to thin, or wrinkled, or stained, tec... leather I would not sell as good strops. I used give them away and now include them at cost (or less) since supply is limited. These are a far cry from my good leather and unless the result of a stamping eror will be unmarked except for an "S". These will vary from month to month depending on what is on hand. Many are Honey Brown as I have the most wasite with these hides, some is my normal Latigo without any treatments so they may be a bit hard. These will have a semi-gloss, slightly waxy feel. I also had some older leather from another maker with a high gloss burgundy finish that looks like a coating on a tan leather. These are not very smooth but quite hard. Is this what you have Bruno? These may be a bit abrasive because of the silica content. I also will use an oily feel latigo, a natural tan smooth or a harder black leather in my seconds. I do not sell the seconds by themselves, only the #4 Starters.

Tony

I will post a picture later today.