Thread: Too heavy of draw damaging edge?

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

I’m with you, if your doing it right and the leather is smooth and contaminant free, you can’t hurt an edge with the strop, now on the other hand a clown not knowing what he’s doing can booger one up quick

I have to agree.

A strop or indeed almost anything that is SERIOUSLY outside the curve will be difficult to use with greatest effectiveness. A really really sticky strop will make it hard for MOST users to get best possible results. That doesn't mean that the user cannot adjust, only that he MUST adjust to really nail it. I like my DIY compressed cowhide and I can without embarrassment compare it to a decent horse shell strop in how it feels under my razor. I also have some strops that are slicker than frog snot, and some that feel like they were treated with Steen's best cane syrup. If well used, all give pretty much the same result. Compare the edge stropped on a Star Shaving Company "Big Daddy" (RIP) to a basic Kanayama and there is no difference. WITHIN REASON, it is all about the tactile, all about the joy of using, feeling and owning. It is only at the extremes that things get dicey and that is because the stropper is not up to the task of using that strop. (Usually, anyway, assuming it is not a cheapie Paki or Chinese SSO (Strop Shaped Object).

I've got a 3" Neil Miller "Artisan" strop -- dual surface: Red Latigo and Horsehide -- and the truth is that I much prefer the Red Latigo, precisely because of its "heavy draw" [and rarely-if-ever use the Horsehide]. Two reasons:

1. It keeps me stropping slowly. The draw is just that heavy... but consistently so, not "herky-jerky".
2. It keeps me in-control. Speed kills!

I use a 3" English Bridal from Classic edge, it was quite light I felt but in fairness didn't have anything to compare it with.

I have sanded it a few times to get rid of my learner nicks and have rubbed in a mixture of neetsfoot oil and glycerin. The glycerin slowed it down a lot and I prefer it so I guess I would have to say that I am a heavy draw sort of guy. I bought the neetsfoot/glycerin mixture from DVW with some 3" wide linen and it works really well.

I 100% agree with JBHoren, my strop is much slower now so I can control my stropping. The reason I started to cut my strop again recently after learning not to months ago is that I got faster and faster which may work well for the really experienced guys here but for me slowish and deliberate is the way to go.

Can't you just go slow? Is there some reason that you need to go faster on a lighter draw?

Originally Posted by planeden

Can't you just go slow? Is there some reason that you need to go faster on a lighter draw?

No, there's no actual reason why I couldn't go slow on a lighter draw but I just seem to go faster because it wil let me.

Originally Posted by STF

No, there's no actual reason why I couldn't go slow on a lighter draw but I just seem to go faster because it wil let me.

So, it is just Steer Pressure.

If your strop isn't something pristine, you can try this, to reduce the draw. Yes...I've done this to a few strops, with no ill affects.

Dampen, not saturate, a clean rag with rubbing alcohol, and lightly wipe your strop, allow to dry between wipes till you find your desired draw.

I did this to a couple that I over hydrated, and on a new, red Latigo I'd purchased from Imperial shave.

May not be the proper thing to do, but it worked for me, and I can use the strops, now.