Thread: Skip the Linen?

I need some advice. I'm leaving Wednesday on a two week trip and rather that bring my Red Latigo the my son gave me, I thought I'd take the practice strop he gave me with it. The problem is, it's just a single piece of leather and doesn't have a linen. Should I skip the linen strop for two weeks? I noticed Johnny J uses nylon webbing, so I've considered using the strap on my camera bag. Any thoughts?

If you can get access to it, I have heard that a length of seat belt works wonders. If you have the type of strop which the leather can be removed and a canvas strop added you can just add a length of seat belt.

A pair of bluejeans will work wonders. Just put them on and sit so that the bluejeans are tight and wrinkle free on the top of your thigh, then go to town.
If you don't yet have a good handle on stropping I would advice you not to try this method.

My dear Mark,

What a creative idea — blue jeans. I like that.

Regards,

Obie

Between now and Wednesday use your practice strop sans linen. See how your shaves are. If they are acceptable take the practice strop. If not take the latigo with linen.

Originally Posted by JMS

A pair of bluejeans will work wonders. Just put them on and sit so that the bluejeans are tight and wrinkle free on the top of your thigh, then go to town.
If you don't yet have a good handle on stropping I would advice you not to try this method.

It does work well denim! I've stropped on my leg like that a couple of times and I like the finish it gives!

I've got a few lengths of denim to make a flatbed hone to put my diamond spray on. Just need to actually get around to making the thing now though..! Ah, for some more spare time!

I've pretty much skipped the linen stropping for the last 2.5 years, I could never say for sure if it gave a better result than just stropping properly on a decent leather surface alone. Of course, this is just my own opinion.

The last 2 strops I bought from Tony, I ordered without any linen part as it would just never get used.

That's a nice idea about using denim and diamond paste as a bench hone, perhaps you could wrap it around a block of balsa and mount it on a block of hardwood? Though I know some folks just put the abrasive compound directly on the balsa....

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Between now and Wednesday use your practice strop sans linen. See how your shaves are.

I agree with Jimmy. Strop using your practice leather only today and tomorrow and see if that works out for you.

Some people here don't use linen at all. I feel you can get away w/o it for a couple of weeks. If you feel that the edge isn't where it should be before you return home just strop it on some newspaper. Jeans work well also but if you didn't plan on bringing any jeans along or you have reservation about stropping on your leg the newspaper will work almost as well, if not better. For less than a buck after you arrive at your destination or free if you can find day old or greater edition.

You can also strop on the underside of your forearm in place of the practice strop if you are comfortable with that.

I've gone up to about a year without ever touching the linen and it's not done any harm to my shaves nor razors. A two week spell without the linen shouldn't hurt.

cheers!

+1 on that. I never use the linen. I personally think its a waste of time