Thread: wanting to buy the best TM strop for a newb

I am new to the site, but not new to the wetshaving world and I just wanted to thank everyone for letting me troll around and learn from your experence. I have been practicing on my KRupp filly strop and wapi so I am not going bilnd on a new strop but I have an addictive personallity and am looking for another one.
I have some questions about my next strop and looking for advise. Been talking with TM about a paddle strop and hoping he would make me a linen/ horse 3" paddle, but that may not work out. My question...

If it does not work out should I get the 3" combo paddle? if so should I get horse and paste the other side with .05 diamond.
Or should I get the 3" artisan Horse, latigo, cotton? and just get a coticle for touch ups.

All feedback is welcome and feel free to switch it up if I did not pick the right combos.
thanks

First, do you want a paddle strop for everyday stropping? A paddle strop will work, and Tony makes some absolutely beautiful strops. However, a hanging strop is thought to be a better strop for everyday because it has a longer strop surface to work with. You can paste pretty much anything you want to use as a pasting strop (balsa wood, linen, leather, etc.). For my personal use I have a hanging strop for everyday use and a Tony Miller paddle strop for paste. I don't own a coticule. The pasting strop does just fine for edge touchups...

Well...

I would go with the 3" latigo, cotton or linen, and a coticule for touching up. If you are using pastes to touch up, you will eventually need to have the razor honed (if you aren't doing that yourself). Touching up on a coticule will keep the edge keen indefinitely as long as your technique is good. This has been my experience anyway!

Hope this helps,

-Rob

I have both the Latigo and Horse Hide. I really prefer the horse over the latigo, but sometimes change is good.

Hanging strop first, no matter which brand you are after.......unless you have a specific need for a compact strop or one that can do daily stropping and pastes. A paddle is mainly a pasted strop and would be my second purchase (or a stone if you don't mind the learning curve).

Tony

I would go with Tony
This person will keep his words doesn't matter what.
I am sure he doesn't remember me but that is not important.
As long as you buy and satisfied that is matter.

What terrible options. Get it all!

You've got a hanging strop now so I guess I'd say try the paddle. Maybe balsa for the green paste? Horse hide paddle might be nice, but Tony's Latigo is a great bit of hide and nothing to look down your nose at.

X

+1 X, Get it all, you'll wind up doing it anyway, but I agree with the others. You need a regular strop for everyday. I have my TM Red Latigo w/canvas. I love it. I have several other hanging strops, but my TM Red is the workhorse. Paddles are good for touching up dull razors and are used with paste normally. Tony's paddles are great. I have several.

So does anyone (Tony!!!) have a recommendation on Horse or Latigo, Cotton or linen? It looks like I am waiting on the paddle and going with the 3" artisan from TM. Then following up with a coticle.

Flattop,
I have a description of the merits of each on my storefront. I like Latigo myself as it has the most draw which often makes it easier for a beginner to have better control whiloe stropping. The smoothness of the horses makes it harder to sue for some as there is little resisitance.

For the cloth, both feel the same in use. The cotton works fine and is less expensive, the genuine linen is more expensive to buy and has more waste hence the higher cost. it is said to be slightly abrasive, some feel it is, others see no difference.

Hope this helps,
Tony