Quick question before I order a strop

I see that many people feel the linen or canvas or cotton is important so Im going to get that. Now I do want a 3" so that I dont have to do the X pattern but Im reading that it doesnt matter, I still have to do it. Is this true? Also if thats the case, I heard wider strops cup and bow which I dont want. Finally, I dont want the starter strop because there is no canvas/linen to it. Many strop for a long time with no linen but if its that important, why strop on just leather? I can order the practice strop that comes with the artisan but for daily use, isnt the linen/canvas/cotton needed? Real cofused. I also didnt even get into pastes and paddles yet either. totally new to this Thanks!

Also is a real difference between the canvas and the upgraded linen? I know there are many variables but Id like to know where to begin, what to use or not to use, etc.

get the narrower one, with canvas on back. Also, getting a shorter one is not bad idea, it will help with your form,

cheers,
Nenad

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Originally Posted by OldFashioned

Now I do want a 3" so that I dont have to do the X pattern but Im reading that it doesnt matter, I still have to do it. Is this true?

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You don't have to do it but there is some benefit. It's a difference that is too subtle for me to recognize in my own personal experience

Buy a 3" if that's what appeals to you. Strop it straight, it will be fine. Using an X pattern is also fine, but may be a bit more difficult for some. Others may find the X pattern easier. Mostly, people who say "you have to" do it out of a sense of tradition:

http://images.despair.com/products/d.../tradition.jpg
:D

I am assuming that you are thinking of a Tony Miller? If that is the case, don't worry about cupping, he has his strops all dialed in with the right thickness leather to prevent cupping.

Get the artisan with canvas/linen and the practice strop. Start by using the practice strop (should give you months of enjoyment by itself!), then when you feel like you want to start screwing around with stuff (that's what we all like to do here:rolleyes:) then you can play around with the canvas/linen, etc. and see what you like.

I have a TM starter strop, and have been using that for the last couple of months, and it takes a bit of practice to just get plain leather stropping down just right, so that it actuallly is effective.

Don't worry too much about "having" to use it or not. There is a lot to learn when you are first starting, most importantly will be shaving technique. If your shaving technique isn't there yet, you most likely will not be able to tell the difference between a canvas stropped blade, a leather only stropped blade, or a blade that someone waved a rubber chicken over (hey, it works for some people!).

Bottom line- I highly, HIGHLY recommend a TM strop. As I said I have a simple Starter strop, and it is beautiful, smooth, and effective. If you get an Artisan strop you will be over the moon with how awesome it is, and have endless hours of fussing around with the leather, the linen, where to hang it, when do you get to use it again? All that fun stuff!

thanks guys.

I have one TM with canvas and another with linen and the linen is much nicer. Get that if you have the option. As far as the strops go get what you want. I have both and use both and I have never had a cupping issue with Tony's strop. I did with a Dovo though.

One more reason to get the starter strop. If you nick the Artisan, you will really be pissed off you didn't . If you don't knick it (like I was fortunate not to do) you are not out a lot fo money, but it is really cheap insurance.

I have the three inch Artisan with the genuine linen and love it. I strop half and half x-pattern or heel leading straight. I actually do the x-pattern for the last 20-30 strokes. Does it make a difference? No idea, but it also is cheap insurance and since my shaves and stropping are going pretty well, I am good for now. Next month who knows.

I have both the starter and the 3" strop. I have several nicks on the starter that I attribute to the X pattern. They all appear on the far left corner of the strop. My 3" has no nicks (yet). I do not notice any difference in results using the X pattern or stropping straight on the 3" but I have not been shaving with straights for so long so perhaps I am not as perceptive about the subtleties of stropping with an X pattern.

I have used X pattern stropping for a long time. I do the X pattern in a particular way though, based on my observation of a barber stropping at one time. I started stropping that way, and perfected my technique, which has given me excellent results.

For a long time I just took it for granted that the way I performed the X pattern was somehow just a better way to do it, but without really understanding why. Lately I'm beginning to think that I now know the reason, and it has to do mainly with the angles of the striations/ micro-serrations produced when X pattern honing. The X pattern style I use seems to create stropping forces that align with the striations, and not across them. This, I think will tend to draw out the edge serrations as opposed to just smoothing them down. Possibly why I have been able to get edges that go for months to at least a year without the need to touch a hone, even for a touch-up.



Scott

3" strops are a new thing.

Old barbers used 2.5" and X patterns.

I've used both and I prefer the 3" strop. It doesn't nick so easily and it's easier to use.

Maybe they had smaller cows in the old days.;)

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Originally Posted by honedright

I have used X pattern stropping for a long time. I do the X pattern in a particular way though, based on my observation of a barber stropping at one time. I started stropping that way, and perfected my technique, which has given me excellent results.

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Can you give is some details on how your x-pattern may be different? Is an x-pattern not an x-pattern? Inquiring minds want to know.

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Originally Posted by Brad

Can you give is some details on how your x-pattern may be different? Is an x-pattern not an x-pattern? Inquiring minds want to know.

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Wow, had a long detailed explanation, then lost it while trying to post :rant:

So I'll try again, shorter this time -

Instead of a static X, think of a winshield wiper that has a laterally moving, back and forth, pivot point. Instead of begining with the razor perpendicular across the strop, the stroke begins with the razor angled across. First with the point towards the top end of the strop, and then ending with the point diagonally towards the end of the strop.

Consider this movement in relation to the diagonally angled cutting striations created by X pattern honing (with the razor canted back about 45 deg.) and you might understand what I'm getting at.



Scott

I use an X-pattern; as in the barber manuals. I almost never use the linen or canvas and have come to prefer a 1.5" to 2.5" inch hanger (latigo mostly). I would strop heel-leading on a wide strop, whether I used an X-stroke or not. A lot of it is just personal preference. You should just try linen once you can strop well on leather and see if you get good results with it. Some like linen/canvas, some don't.

The same situation for pastes; try it and see. I don't use pastes and prefer the edge from a barber or other 10k to 12k hone. Once again, you'll need to try it to know if you like it. Pastes can get a very sharp edge that is preferred by many.