Thread: Linen side of strop

Hey,

I've been straight razor shaving for about 7 months now and I love it.
I'm currently using a Black Beauty strop (Australian Made) and enjoy it but I'm about to go backpacking...

I don't particularly want to use a Paddle Strop and I'm looking at purchasing a strop which looks very much like this.
http://www.dovorazors.com/_wp_generated/wpd9b050dd.jpg

It has a linen side on it and I was wondering if I'm correct in thinking that this side gives it a micro hone and the other skin-coloured side is plain leather and is used to finish.

Maybe say, 15 linen and 30 leather passes.

How far off am I people? Please set me straight.

Best Regards
Sam Murray

That lap count sounds pretty close to me.

The linen side can be used less often also, say about once a week. But I prefer your plan. I also use linen for 2 passes if I'm stropping mid shave. I'd rather get stuff on the linen then the leather, as a quick cleaning.

The linen is actually used to rough up the edge a little as, historically, it was believed that the striations at the edge become too smooth over time and the razor stops cutting as well. That is why the linen side is, counter-intuitively, so bumpy. And why many strops don't even have a linen side.

Using linen and leather together produces a very nice shaving edge, they seem to compliment each other nicely, the ratios for each aren't too important though.

I owe one just like that. I'm very pleased with it. I'm in the habit of doing 10 laps on linen and 30 laps on leather before each shave.
I don't strop after the shave. I've worked some yellow fat, that Dovo sells in little tubes, into the leather, to get a little more drag.
Mine is the Russian type cowhide. I bought it in a store, specialized in straight razors and equipment. The linen side of mine has a V-shaped pattern. The linen side of the regular cowhide strop had a diagonal pattern. The store owner said he liked the linen side of the Russian type more, and I went along with his advice. He's not of the "try to sell the most expensive merchandise first"- type, so I trusted his opinion.

Happy backpacking,

Bart.

Thanks for the replies people.

I have one additional thing to ask about the strop.

My Black Beauty is quite wide. Approx 2 standard house blocks wide. (so I didn't have a ruler )

The Dovo strop is quite a bit thinner which isn't the issue, it's that I think there's a slight bow in the strop. I'll do an ascii exaggerated example.

Leather Side
\_____/

Linen Side

As you can see, the edges seem taughter than the middle. This is only very slight and I can tell as I see a small shadow under the center of the blade.
I strop in an X pattern.

Question: Is this normal and a cause for concern? Will it flatten out over time?

Thanks in advance.
Sam Murray

Originally Posted by jigme

Thanks for the replies people.

I have one additional thing to ask about the strop.

My Black Beauty is quite wide. Approx 2 standard house blocks wide. (so I didn't have a ruler )

The Dovo strop is quite a bit thinner which isn't the issue, it's that I think there's a slight bow in the strop. I'll do an ascii exaggerated example.

Leather Side
\_____/

Linen Side

As you can see, the edges seem taughter than the middle. This is only very slight and I can tell as I see a small shadow under the center of the blade.
I strop in an X pattern.

Question: Is this normal and a cause for concern? Will it flatten out over time?

Thanks in advance.
Sam Murray

It sounds like you're talking about "cupping". What you can do and this is what I do to all the strops I sell; is pull it back forth on the leather side over the rounded edge of a counter top. It's as if you are trying to buff the edge. This will work the leather and loosen it up a touch. Or you can do the same thing over a glass bottle.

Cupping eh? Thanks!
I've got a few questions about it but instead of further going I'll start a new thread.

Muchos Gracias!
Senor Sam

This is NOT a "Hijack"......but since we're talking about the linen side, I'd like to hear some opinions about treatment !

I had a "weak moment" the other night, and started buying on the internet. Have a T-I "extra-wide" double side paddle coming, also some .25µ diamond paste (which I expect to use with the before-mentioned).....

Some "fun" stuff, like a six-pack of steaming towels, and a tub of C.R. Salter "Wild Rose" cream.......AND.......A stick of T-I Razor Sharpening Paste, which I noticed Lynn used on his linen.

My question is that he seemed to put it on pretty heavy !........When I got my DOVO strop, the linen side seemed to have a VERY MINOR amount of some kind of "chalk" already in it......no where NEAR as much as I saw on that video !

What's the "scoop" on linen treatment ?......(can I just leave it "plain") ?

Thanks !........Marko.

Originally Posted by Markopolo

This is NOT a "Hijack"......but since we're talking about the linen side, I'd like to hear some opinions about treatment !

I had a "weak moment" the other night, and started buying on the internet. Have a T-I "extra-wide" double side paddle coming, also some .25µ diamond paste (which I expect to use with the before-mentioned).....

Some "fun" stuff, like a six-pack of steaming towels, and a tub of C.R. Salter "Wild Rose" cream.......AND.......A stick of T-I Razor Sharpening Paste, which I noticed Lynn used on his linen.

My question is that he seemed to put it on pretty heavy !........When I got my DOVO strop, the linen side seemed to have a VERY MINOR amount of some kind of "chalk" already in it......no where NEAR as much as I saw on that video !

What's the "scoop" on linen treatment ?......(can I just leave it "plain") ?

Thanks !........Marko.

Yes you can leave it plain. The chalk like substance you noticed was probably a linen dressing. It is available from Custom Shaving. But leaving it plain is very common.

Thanks Ken.......appreciate the reply.