Thread: Question ...Linen vs Canvas.

What is the diference between stropping with canvas or linen?
i feel what i have in my strops is canvas...is very hard...almost like a plastic feel to it....
Whats the best to prepare the blade for the leather?
Thanks very much.

It could be a treated linen/canvas. What make of strop is it?

PuFF

I don't really know the difference, but Tony Miller could definately help you with this question. I only use leather (even though I have linen) and it seems to work fine by itself.

It is a bismarck and an illinois...both have the same thing ...all i could say about it is that it is hard to bend ( compare to any textile) and with a shinny and plasticky feel to it...and when you strop on it makes a strong whoooose noise...

Originally Posted by sergiobruna

It is a bismarck and an illinois...both have the same thing ...all i could say about it is that it is hard to bend ( compare to any textile) and with a shinny and plasticky feel to it...and when you strop on it makes a strong whoooose noise...

My Tony Miller #1 Latigo Strop has a "linen" side that I would describe exactly as you did above. My dovo best quality strop has a linen side that feels like cloth.

The Illinois "linen" does have some sort oif coating or impregnation that feels "plasticy". the entire thing is stiff as if it is starched. My linen is a coarse hard weave but develops a soft knapp with use, still is is way softer than the Illinois material. Dovo/Jemico on the other hand use a very soft supple "linen" material.

For me though it's mostly leather stropping. I rarely use the linen on any make of strop.

Tony

Linen will produce a mild honing effect. I use it every time, before and after. Only around 10/20 strokes.

Doesn't soaping make it very hairy?

Originally Posted by Kees

Doesn't soaping make it very hairy?

Quite the opposite really. It makes the linen less harsh but maintaining the quality. It fills in the hollows that the razor never touches anyway while stropping and binds the fibres together to make a smooth surface, or should i say as smooth as you want it to be. You can fill the grain to the point where it is just soap you are stropping on, though there would be no point in that. I have 2 of the cotton canvas strops from TM that are near full filled with soap and with a top layer of diamond pastes washed on the surface. they work great!

PuFF

Interesting.