Thread: 4-sided strop: hard to use?

I'm a total beginner with razors on order. I'm thinking about getting Tony Miller's 4-sided strop with honing pastes. Is it hard to use as an everyday strop? It's 1 3/4-inches wide.

Not hard to use, but with the reduced width, you have to use an X-pattern to contact the entire width of the blade. Also, because the entire blade is not continually in contact with the strop, you need to increase your total number of passes in order to get the same amount of stropping as with a wider strop.

For everyday stropping, most suggest a hanging strop. However, if funds are limited, yes, you can easily get by with only a paddle strop.

Cheers,
Ed

I had one when I first started and had some difficulty with keeping the edge level once it left the surface of the strop. This resulted in me dropping the edge and messing it up.

However, that was solely the fault of my dexterity and no reflection on the strop. For a beginner on a budget, it's a nice choice because you get a strop and the pastes to keep the razor sharp.

I found the paddle strop very easy to use and lent itself well to learning disciplined stropping.

The ghosts of bad actors playing barbers seem to visit while using the hanging strop and pushing speed before skill has developed. But sooner rather than later you deserve to get one and Tony Miller is the Man.

Oh and the paddle just may be easier to travel with on some occasions. Just watch out for transferring the grit from the pastes to pastes or paste to blade to paste as it were.

Good luck

I have several hanging and paddle strops that I picked up from Tony Miller not too long ago. I am using the 4 sided paddle strop almost exclusively lately since its so easy to use. I have a red latigo and horsehide leather sides, and a 1.0 & .5 micron pasted sides. I would recommend a paddle strop if your starting out, however, I you really can't do wrong with anything Tony Miller puts out.

Originally Posted by steve

I had one when I first started and had some difficulty with keeping the edge level once it left the surface of the strop. This resulted in me dropping the edge and messing it up.

However, that was solely the fault of my dexterity and no reflection on the strop. For a beginner on a budget, it's a nice choice because you get a strop and the pastes to keep the razor sharp.

I would have to agree with the above. I used the paddle solely for about 4 months and just got the hanging strop. If you are going to use the paddle as a pasted sharpening surface I would say go for it. I find the pasted sides of the paddle easier to use than the leather for some reason. I think a hanging strop is easier to use, maybe I just like the feel of them. I got by with a TM 4 sided paddle and think it is a great tool as well. But if you are looking for something just for daily stropping look into a hanging strop. Ever since I started stropping with a larger strop my shaving has improved. Just my own experience though. A paddle is probably a good idea for a first strop as far as convenience, but if you are looking for something for daily stropping only, my vote is a hanging strop.

I have Tony Miller 2 sided paddle which I keep clean and use when I'm on the road. It takes a little more attention than a hanger for daily duty, but nothing difficult. I've also got a pocket paddle Tony made for me for paste. Very ease to use in the palm of my hand.

X

I would agree with much of what I read here. For daily use a hanging strop is usually the best tool. It is wider and longer meaning more surface area so it is more effective. Even when pulled taught though it can wiggle side to side a bit which takes a little getting used to. Now paddles are best as pasted tools for the most part but are quite effective as daily use tools and I mave sold many to guys who use them exclusively for every day shopping. I usually suggest a paddle for a beginner for one main reason....it's the most bang for the buck in the beginning. Many guys start this path and are a bit put off by costs. Razor, mug, brush, strops, etc....add up pretty quick. I started the same way, laying out a lot of money for a hanging strop outfit only to find just 2 weeks later I now needed to learn how to sharpen and then buy yet another tool to do that job. The pasted "combo" type paddle gives a beginner both a daily tool and a long term pasted tool for refreshing the razor with one investment. Even if adding hones or hanging strop later it still has a place in their lineup.

Now, a wide unpoasted paddle does make a pretty handy every day tool. I have been using a 3 1/4" wide paddle almost exclusively now for 4 weeks and like the rigid surface for stropping even though it does take a few more passes.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I would agree with much of what I read here. For daily use a hanging strop is usually the best tool. It is wider and longer meaning more surface area so it is more effective. Even when pulled taught though it can wiggle side to side a bit which takes a little getting used to. Now paddles are best as pasted tools for the most part but are quite effective as daily use tools and I mave sold many to guys who use them exclusively for every day shopping. I usually suggest a paddle for a beginner for one main reason....it's the most bang for the buck in the beginning. Many guys start this path and are a bit put off by costs. Razor, mug, brush, strops, etc....add up pretty quick. I started the same way, laying out a lot of money for a hanging strop outfit only to find just 2 weeks later I now needed to learn how to sharpen and then buy yet another tool to do that job. The pasted "combo" type paddle gives a beginner both a daily tool and a long term pasted tool for refreshing the razor with one investment. Even if adding hones or hanging strop later it still has a place in their lineup.

Now, a wide unpoasted paddle does make a pretty handy every day tool. I have been using a 3 1/4" wide paddle almost exclusively now for 4 weeks and like the rigid surface for stropping even though it does take a few more passes.

Tony

Couldn't have said it better myself.