Thread: How effective is clean fabric?

Ive heard this and known this for years. Flax linen definitely gives an edge a bump. And your pics prove that but its so easy to try it and then see what the effect is on the edge. This is one of the reason I dont hone very often and get 100 shaves plus per hone. Please note this is about flax linen, not seatbelt material nylon webbing etc that is out there. I got mine from Torulf from scrupleworks. Me and a few pals did a group buy on 4 to lower shipping costs. (no affiliation to anyone btw)

Very Interesting.. It would be nice to see the effects of different grades of leathers or if there were any noticable differences between them.
Thanks for sharing..

Easy enough to test on your own. For me I find they all work the same. I prefer horsehide because it's a pleasure to use. But as far as the edge goes I haven't seen any difference.

Originally Posted by JOB15

Very Interesting.. It would be nice to see the effects of different grades of leathers or if there were any noticable differences between them.
Thanks for sharing..

There is a difference, at least on Timahagane/tamahagane. I will eventually have results on my web site.

What I have found most interesting about stropping on linen, flax, paste and leather in general is the amount of pressure that is put on the edge and the area immediately behind the edge, as opposed to the whole bevel.

Which is probably why new guys, have such an issue with stropping and edge retention. Add a little pressure and it is easy to roll the edge. Add a dirty/dusty strop…

Stropping on anything abrasive works to remove steel from the bevel and edge, even a brown paper bag.

Nice photos, stropping is way under-rated.

So glad there are guys like yourself Tim that do all the hard work and investigations for the rest of us to enjoy..
Thank you sir! Scott.W

It is very possible for different leathers to have differing effects, at least in theory. Various chemicals, barks, tannins, etc...are used in various processes and remnants of them do remain in the leather and are likely to have their own abrasive characteristics, anywhere from slight to more effective. Some leather have a very firm, hard surface or temper, others quite soft and yielding. This coupled with the chemicals/tannins, I would think would vary how effective or quickly a strop could restore an edge.

That said any strop of any leather (or several other materials) will be effective but just like with cloth, some are possibly more effective than others and some steels may be more receptive than others.

It has been very educational getting Tim's feedback and photos as he has worked though various materials.

Tony

I pasted a linen strop with Williams shaving soap.
After a bit the linen turned gray from the metal removed by the linen