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So im looking for a wider strop to add to my tools. Im curious what you experienced members are using, which is your favorite, where you got it, how long you've had it.
I have a dovo 2 sided hanging strop - but its only like 2" wide and was thinking about purchasing a wider one for ease of stropping.
I started off using the girth strap on my pony,wouldnt even take the saddle off just undo the cinch strop the razor,couple of quick passes redo the girth and off to the saturday night dance(just after the jurassic)
I'm using a 2½" wide by 24" long strop. That's what was in the starter kit I bought from a list member over a year ago. The leather has since been replaced, because like many a newbie I nicked it all to hell. I did buy a piece of 3" wide leather at the same time, but it might be a little unweildy for a hanging strop.
I have a Dovo 3 1/4 by 23 I love the wider strop. No need to do x pattern as whole blade fits on the strop. :)
i have a george g. that i got a year ago from the yahoo forum, direct from george. it is nicked a little but not too bad and i ran a pumice stone over it. seems to still do the trick, i guess.
maybe i am too dumb to know better
sam
Hi mbuemi1577,
My best strops are the ones I won off of ebay. My Llama Brand strop (classic barber style) is my favorite.
Hal
I've been eyeballing Tony Miller's #1 strop. Hear good things, and I like the look of it. The only other strops I've had hand handles on them though. Does the lack of a handle affect anything? Would grabbing a handful of leather to hold it taut cause any cupping or curling?
I thought exactly the same thing and for my first I got a 2 1/2" wide Illinois 361. To travel I recently picked up a paddle from Tony Miller and since my girl is usually asleep when I shave in the morning, I've been taking the paddle into the bathroom and leaving the Illinois hanging in the bedroom. The paddle is only 2" wide, but that red leather is so nice I may actually prefer it and its narrowness doesn't seem to make a difference to me at all. I think it's more about hte actual leather.
The 361 hasn't got a handle by the way threeput and it causes me no problems so far.
anybody got any comments on the dovo strop paddle at caswell massey? they have it for $39.50 and you can get 20% off this week. any comments?
sam
So far the only strop that I have actually used is Tony's 4 sided paddle strop. I do have his #2 hanging strop, just haven't taken time to attach it to anything yet. Now I'm looking at his balsa paddle...
RT
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
My bad .:fim:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Miller
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Miller
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.