Thread: your favorite strop?

just disregard my question about the caswell massey strop. i had never seen tony miller's strops and he has a 4 sided strop paddle for less than the dovo and i know people rave about it.

sam

Thanks for the positive comments on my strops guy but that title about Tony Miller's "hangers" looking nice worries me <g> I better go cinch the "boys" up where they belong !

My paddle strops are actually 1 1/2" wide, not 2". I do see a lot of people like really wide hanging strops. I always feel like they will cup or curl though. I can make my, well "hangers" any width but can only get linen 2 1/2" wide.

Question number 2 is how many of you really feel you need the linen? I use it some times but often strop on a hard rough leather (the back of my #2) first and a smooth leather (my #1) second.

Your thoughts on linen?

Tony

I've not used linen, actually took it off my e-bay special (for that matter, I took the strop off as well). Thus, I started out with a $20 brass swivel. From there, I ordered 1 square foot of finished leather from Keith at Hand American ($14.95), asked him to send 2 pieces cut into 3" wide by 24" lengths. I bored a hole in the top of each and mounted them in my salvaged swivel. I dearly love the resulting strop. When pulled tight I have not noticed any cupping or curl and I really like having the entire blade on the strop during the entire length of the leather. The double thickness of leather probably helps, and in case of a nick, I just flip it over until I can repair it with the pummice.
Ed

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

My paddle strops are actually 1 1/2" wide, not 2".

My bad .

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Your thoughts on linen?

Tony

I usually use the linen on my 361. I think it helps, but until I can get a microscope to check I'm still fumbling in the dark.

X

I always understood that the purpose of the linen was to heat the edge of the razor with a little friction. This made aligning things on the smooth leather happen a little more easily. I've also heard that heating the blade by dipping it in hot water, drying, then going to the leather served the same purpose. I rarely use the linen, then again I rarely heat the blade either. I just strop quite a few strokes. I figure the blade heats up with the plain leather enough, considering how quickly I strop. Who knows? That's just me though.

I have about 8 strops or so but my favorites are a DD model 50 Horsehide and a Red Imp both vintage. I just ordered one of Tony's #1 strops. I'll see how it measures up when it arrives. I have never really gotten into paddle strops. I only use them while traveling. I have a 3 inch dovo but I really am not crazy about it. So far I think the vintage strops are just better than the new ones.

I always like to give the edge a few strokes on the Linen first.