While drooling over Tony Miller's website.....

.....and dreaming of the day I could buy one of his strops, I got to wondering about the favourite strop widths of members here.

Are you a wide eyed 3 inch latigo type? Or, perhaps, the narrow visioned 2 inch horse hide is more your stroke? Regardless of "skin" type, what's your preferred width? I've been enjoying the old strop I got from a member here so much, that I don't think I want a 3 incher anymore?

I'm getting kind of partial to the the 2 1/2 incher that I have been using and wonder if getting a 3 inch wide latigo will mess up my stroke?

I've used both a 2" strop (a Dovo) and my 3" TM latigo, and have to say that I like the stability that the 3" provides. Always good and even draw, and even with less than perfect technique, the entire blade gets stropped well.


Mark

I prefer the 3" just because most of my blades have relatively straight edges and I prefer the straight-up-and-down motion of stropping

I've never tried a 3" strop , and likely never will . I like my 2 1/2" TM strop just fine .

I love my 3", but I do adapt my strokes.

2.5" horse all the way. I LOVE my horse hide strops. And 2" just feels too narrow, 3" too clunky. 2.5" is just right...

I went from a 2 inch to a 3 inch recently. At first, I thought I didn't like the 3 inch at all. It took a bit of time before I got my stroke adjusted to the 3 inch width. Once I did, saw the benefits. Having said that, I think I still actually prefer the 2 inch. It seems to me to give more control and better stability, but it could just be that's the width I learned on. I'd like to try a 2.5, but if I buy another it'll probable be 2 inches wide.

3" Red Latigo for me...

Tony Miller makes the BEST strops!

On my short blades, I like the 2 1/2. I started on a 2" though and that's still my favorite.

Well I love the 3" just because I never miss lol and feel like I always have a nice contact area.
Love Tony's strops and his workmanship is astonashing...

Below is a link to my review of his Tri-Strop

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ate-strop.html

For some reason the pics are missing... possibly lost from an upgrade to the board. But here is a link to the pics in my profile.

Straight Razor Place Forums - Earthdawn's Album: Tony Miller Tri-Strop

I've got two 3" strops from Tony, but I sold my 2 1/2" one before trying these (like an idiot). If I could do it again, I'd have stuck with my 2 1/2".

Cupping is a real concern, BTW.

Cheers!

I've got a 3" TM, as well as a vintage 2.5" horsehide strop and a more recent production 1.5" strop... My strokes translate similar from the 2.5" to the 3" but are more consistent on the 3" (because I never miss the toe...). Over 2.5" it doesn't matter much to me. My vote goes for the 3" either way!

I have a few strops, but lately, my go to is, TM 3" Latigo, followed by Kenrups 3" Paladin. I think it makes a nice finisher....SRD has a new strop out, I may be tempted....

I have 3" TM strops and 2.5" inch Kanayamas and a 2" vintage Argentina.

I like them all. And I prefer the TM width. No cupping issues as mine are quite stiff.

I do back and forth straight strokes no matter the width. It is all muscle memory after a certain point and the width doesn't really come into play.

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Originally Posted by richmondesi

I've got two 3" strops from Tony, but I sold my 2 1/2" one before trying these (like an idiot). If I could do it again, I'd have stuck with my 2 1/2".

Cupping is a real concern, BTW.

Cheers!

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Yeah, I suspect I would feel the same way. I've really become accustomed to this old 2.5 inch strop. The thickness of the leather seems perfect and I feel that it's easy to get the entire length of the blade stropped with a little x pattern.

Thanks. I think when I can afford it, I'll be ordering a 2.5 inch from Tony.
Man, he makes gorgeous strops. And if they look that good in photos, I bet they are even better looking up close and personal.

Interesting poll results, that seem to put us in the minority. I wonder of those who prefer the 2.5 inch, if they are more experienced users, and how many are newbies like me?

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Originally Posted by khaos

2.5" horse all the way. I LOVE my horse hide strops. And 2" just feels too narrow, 3" too clunky. 2.5" is just right...

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Yeah, methinks I'm a Goldi-bull-locks on this one. One's too narrow, the other is too wide, and the 2.5 is just right.

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Originally Posted by crushnbugs

3" Red Latigo for me...

Tony Miller makes the BEST strops!

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Yup. Whichever width you choose, it's bound to be a beauty.

I like 3", although I still do x pattern.

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Originally Posted by huntmol

I prefer the 3" just because most of my blades have relatively straight edges and I prefer the straight-up-and-down motion of stropping

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+1 Totallly agree.
MikeB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by richmondesi

I've got two 3" strops from Tony, but I sold my 2 1/2" one before trying these (like an idiot). If I could do it again, I'd have stuck with my 2 1/2".

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I had a 2.5" also, I sold it when my 3" arrived and really wished I hadn't, as I just prefer the 2.5" for some reason.

I also found the 3" I had started to curl a little (or is that what you meant by 'cupped'?), I don't know if it was a one-off but my 2.5" never did that.

I sold everything last year, but just emailed Tony this morning to order a fresh new 2.5". :)

Since going to the 3 inch, all my 2.5 inchers seem like midgets to me now when i use them. Still work fine though. Cupping has not been an issue on any of the 3 inch strops when leaving them hanging, for me anyway.

Lynn

I find that, once again, Lynn is in complete agreement with me. :beer1:
:rofl2:

Now if I could only hone like the chief, things would be marvelously swell.

:D

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Since going to the 3 inch, all my 2.5 inchers seem like midgets to me now when i use them. Still work fine though. Cupping has not been an issue on any of the 3 inch strops when leaving them hanging, for me anyway.

Lynn

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I leave mine hanging as well, put notice that it cups when I strop (not major, but enough to notice... I don't notice it on my cotton or latigo, but on both my horsehide and linen (which is my go to strop)... This makes me wonder :thinking:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by richmondesi

I leave mine hanging as well, put notice that it cups when I strop (not major, but enough to notice... I don't notice it on my cotton or latigo, but on both my horsehide and linen (which is my go to strop)... This makes me wonder :thinking:

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Strange, I've never noticed a cupping issue on my 3" TM Latigo/Horsehide. Since this thread started, I have checked and re-checked them, and they are both deadpan flat. Do you keep your strop in the bathroom? Maybe humidity from the shower is causing this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by huntmol

Strange, I've never noticed a cupping issue on my 3" TM Latigo/Horsehide. Since this thread started, I have checked and re-checked them, and they are both deadpan flat. Do you keep your strop in the bathroom? Maybe humidity from the shower is causing this?

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No, I keep it well away from my bathroom (at least 30')

I have 2", 2.5", and 3" strops. I learned on a 2.5" TM latigo, a great strop. But now that I have the knack for stropping, I get my best edges on the TM 2" latigo/horsehide. Something about the feel just agrees with me, I really can feel the strokes in my fingertips. I get great speed on the 2" too.

But in 3", my SRD Buffalo is no slouch by a long shot. Works great on big razors, and has a very unique feel. Almost feels elastic when pulled taut, and the thinness contributes to being able to feel every inch of the stroke on the wide strop. Cool color and smell, too.

I prefer the 2 1/2 just faster and easy with my strokes often though i'll use my 3 that has a heavey draw and then finish on the El TORO