Do I need linen?

[Dick Danger]

First off, let me say Tony Miller's hanging strop is great, it can even do double duty as a chew toy for your dog should it end up on the floor.

The leather side is mostly untouched, but the linen side is well chewed. Now I'm wondering if I really need a linen strop?

[newdovo]

Now I'm wondering if I really need a linen strop?

You don't really need a linen strop. A white (chalk) pasted linen strop is nice for a refresher, for a blade that needs a little something more. A plain linen strop is a little more subjective. Although I have a couple of linen strops, pasted and unpasted, I typically just go with the leather, and everything works fine with just the leather for a good, keen razor.
Happy stropping.
Parry

[xman]

If you feel the need, you might just start on the rough side of the leather before flopping it over, but again how necessary ... ? I seem to get a good response from the strop alone.

My old barber Jim just used to do the leather and he said "You have to do it fast to warm up the metal so it responds to the stropping". That's sure to be a bad idea for a beginner. Witness my new strop with slices in it. I'd warm the blade with water myself.

X

[uthed]

First off, let me say Tony Miller's hanging strop is great, it can even do double duty as a chew toy for your dog should it end up on the floor.

The leather side is mostly untouched, but the linen side is well chewed. Now I'm wondering if I really need a linen strop?

Only at a formal dinner party .....

[HoekmanX]

Uthed, if you ever feel the need in those cases ask me for a silk one (linnen on a suit ..... there goes society ... ;-) ).

[halwilson]

You can buy some new linen from Tilly:

http://www.redtrader99.com/hones.html

Hal