Thread: Linen, or Canvas or Horsehide, OH MY!

Bert,

I'm not sure how the process works or how it is intended to work. I only mentioned what I remember reading. However, have you looked at the old keys on your ring and noticed how the most used are really worn? And that's only from rubbing them lightly with your fingertips. Nature she works in mysterious ways. I keep telling myself that when it seems that only the honemeisters can make razors sharp.

AHA! To heck with the linen, rub the razor on your fingertips...


Ooop-, B-u--

I get yuour point, but I think those keys are worn because they rub metal on metal going into the lock more than my finger. But I do agree.... running water will abrade and smooth stone, given enough time

Originally Posted by Bruce

Bert,

I'm not sure how the process works or how it is intended to work. I only mentioned what I remember reading. However, have you looked at the old keys on your ring and noticed how the most used are really worn? And that's only from rubbing them lightly with your fingertips. Nature she works in mysterious ways. I keep telling myself that when it seems that only the honemeisters can make razors sharp.

AHA! To heck with the linen, rub the razor on your fingertips...


Ooop-, B-u--

Bertmor
You can polish metal away with any cloth even tempered metals. My pocket knife has a great polish to it from being in my pocket all the time and that is only rubbing against soft cotton. Remember that we are talking about a very fine edge on a razor so the work needed to polish it is very small.
As far as linen only being used for removing corrosion, can't see how a barber that uses a razor time after time or with very little rest time, would get a case of corrosion on his blade. I guess nothing is beyond the realms of possibility.

All I can say is that the linen works for me and it seems quite a few others members. I would suggest you try a good quality linen strop and see how you like it, you may be supprised.

PuFF

Well time and experience will show me, I guess. Anything is possible. As for corrosion, a very fine edge, especially carbon steel, will get microscopic corrosion very easily. May not see it, can't really prevent it. Honing will remove it. Allowing a patina to develop will help.

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

Bertmor
You can polish metal away with any cloth even tempered metals. My pocket knife has a great polish to it from being in my pocket all the time and that is only rubbing against soft cotton. Remember that we are talking about a very fine edge on a razor so the work needed to polish it is very small.
As far as linen only being used for removing corrosion, can't see how a barber that uses a razor time after time or with very little rest time, would get a case of corrosion on his blade. I guess nothing is beyond the realms of possibility.

All I can say is that the linen works for me and it seems quite a few others members. I would suggest you try a good quality linen strop and see how you like it, you may be supprised.

PuFF

Why don't we just use the linen stop because its there? Seems more pratical than the discertation of why we should not!

Thiers-Issard says in the paperwork that is supplied with there new razors.

Use a leather paddle strope!

Nothing is said about the use of a hanging strope, and no mention of the use of linen or canvas in stropping.

Originally Posted by Stefan

Thiers-Issard says in the paperwork that is supplied with there new razors.

Use a leather paddle strope!

Nothing is said about the use of a hanging strope, and no mention of the use of linen or canvas in stropping.

Perhaps that is all that is said because that's all they sell in the way of strops?

Yes, I thought about that. I know that they only sell leather paddle stropes. But, they could have a larger share of the market if they also sold hanging stropes.

I do think a paddle strope is better in in that it always stays flat. The all leather factor, well, everyone has a differant idea. I like only leather.

For me I would like to see a large paddle strope in horsehide say 18"X3 1/4".

Stefan,
I have done a few long, rigid strops in the past. Not sure how well that really works out in practice though. Heavy and unwieldy comes to mind, but many do prefer rigid strops. I do quite often use a paddle in place of a hanging strop.

Tony

Originally Posted by Stefan

Thiers-Issard says in the paperwork that is supplied with there new razors.

Use a leather paddle strope!

Nothing is said about the use of a hanging strope, and no mention of the use of linen or canvas in stropping.

I wonder if TI recently changed their instruction page. On the three I bought in the last 5 lears all had a diagram of stropping on a hanging strop but didn't mention the paddle.

They must be partial. I don't think anything is fundamentally different about their razors that would require only a paddle.

I find the linen issue to be the most elusive theory regarding straight razor shaving.

MikeB