Thread: paddle v's hanging strops

hi all
i was woundering if using a paddle strop would be easyer to use then a hanging strop as it is all ways taught and all i would have to worry about is making sure i have the blade flat and the pressure right ?
i am new to this and i dont want to turn the edge throught poor stropping!
thanks in advance
stan

I like a hanging strop personally. I have a loom strop and I've used the linen side with chrom ox once in awhile but not the leather. A lot of experienced members like a paddle strop though and they are good if you travel.

The honing stropping chapter in the barber manual here recommends that you practice turning the blade between thumb and forefinger without moving the arm to get used to that part of the motion. Some guys start with a butter knife to practice without worrying about nicking the strop. If the download displays sideways print it out. There is a lot of good info on honing and stropping and it is worth having to refer back to.

I would think it is a matter of personal preference, unless some of the pro's on here would say otherwise. I like the hanging strop because it gives me the option of giving it some "slack". I do not pull my strop super taut when stropping. I let loose and give it just enough slack for me to feel the blade draw better, but not enough the possibly roll the edge of the blade. You have to practice and experiment to find what feels best to you. IMO, there is nothing wrong with a paddle as a main daily use strop. Jeremy-

It's a matter of personal preference. I've been using one of Tony Miller's horsehide/linen paddles for a few months now and it seems to have eliminated just about all of the daily variation in sharpness that I was getting from the hanging strop. I think this probably came about due to slight variations in the levels of sag in those last few laps each day. The negative is that the paddles are shorter so it takes more laps to strop the razor fully, and you can't really make it longer without excessive weight. I did make one that was 15" long, but it was too heavy to hold comfortably so I hung it from the doorknob, but it was too long and heavy and banged on the door, so I'll have to hang it from the counter or wall. Until then though the short paddle is working ok. A loom strop would work too but I'd need to tighten it up every day with a torque wrench or else I'd still get that annoying day-to-day variability.

In my ignorant opinion, a hanging strop is best. I have been honing my own. I started taping the spine because I wanted to save on wear while I try to get it right. It also seems to be easier to get a good edge by adding more layers of tape on the spine with finer hones, creating a bevelled edge. I think some professional honers also tape the spine. With an edge honed in this way, I don't feel the paddle strop comes into good contact with the edge, unless you are going to tape the spine to strop the razor, which seems like a pain to do every day. For me, the hanging strop seems to work better.

Originally Posted by Xerxes

With an edge honed in this way, I don't feel the paddle strop comes into good contact with the edge...

It actually does. Maybe if you had some old sheffield with a massive bevel and used 3-4 pieces of tape you might have a problem, but short of that extreme the paddle will still work fine.

Learn to strop on a paddle strops, it’s easier to keep flat and consistent. Eventually move onto a hanging strop. They do seem to put a better edge on a blade when you have learned some “feel” and developed some skill.

i'm not sure what constitutes a loom strop, but i think that it may be the compromise between the two, is this right?

A paddle strop is going to be easier to use as a beginner. From my experience though I would go with a Tony Miller Barber's Friend.

A hanging strop is going to offer you a lot more versatility, stability, and portability IMMHO.

My two cents, Basically, Paddle strops are great for pastes, Hanging Strops are normally used for day to day stroping, like you see in the Barber's. Either can be used, so like everyone else said, it's personal preference. A loom strop is like an adjustable paddle you can adjust the tension of the leather/material. Your going to get a much longer draw on a hanging strop, you should learn to use one if you plan on shaving with a straight razor IMO...