Thread: Has anyone else here found they get better results with smaller strops?

I've been thinking this over for a while now, and I'm really glad I've always stuck to 2" strops. When I use them it really feels like I'm making good contact with the blade, and I swear I can even see it while I'm stropping. I've tried 2.5" width and the blade definitely still makes contact, although if it was a blade with a severe smile I can see applications where the 2.5" will not make contact as well as a 2" strop. The one time I tried a 3" strop, I was in the middle of making some DIY paddles and I tried a diy 3" belt for about 30 seconds before I came to the conclusion that it felt all wrong. The blade didn't make contact nearly as well on a 3" strop as a 2 or 2.5" strop.

Do I just suck with a 3" strop, or is something else at play here (convenience, speed, etc)?

Interesting. I have never used a strop that wasn't at least 2 1/2. For some time I've used the 3" and I like it. I do go back and forth between the two sometimes but that is more because I like to use some of the vintage strops that I have for the nostalgia factor. Good to know that the 2" works that well for you. I had always wondered how guys could get by with the thinner strops. I don't know why you would have had a problem with the wider strop. An SRD, a HandAmerican or a Tony Miller are good and flat and work great for me.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Interesting. I have never used a strop that wasn't at least 2 1/2. For some time I've used the 3" and I like it. I do go back and forth between the two sometimes but that is more because I like to use some of the vintage strops that I have for the nostalgia factor. Good to know that the 2" works that well for you. I had always wondered how guys could get by with the thinner strops. I don't know why you would have had a problem with the wider strop. An SRD, a HandAmerican or a Tony Miller are good and flat and work great for me.

Just doing a few extra passes lets us get by . It is easier to nick a 2" strop though IMO as you are moving the blade around a lot more on the surface of the strop .

I like a less then wide strop sometimes. I like it for the same reason I enjoy honing smiling blades, there is a bit of finesse and movement involved. I do not get better results with a thinner strop. I get the about the same results regardless of width. I enjoy paying attention and doing the X stroke.

At other times I like a 3" get'er done strop, no muss, no fuss.

Variety is the spice of life.

Charlie

Originally Posted by SavantStrike

The blade didn't make contact nearly as well on a 3" strop as a 2 or 2.5" strop.

This has been my experience also. I have a couple of nice 3" strops that I started with, but I'm finding more and more that my 2" and 2 1/2" strops are easier to use in terms of maintaining proper contact between blade and strop. If I could have only one strop, it would be 2 1/2."

I prefer the narrower strops. 85% of my stropping is on a latigo 1.5" hanger,

I don't think the results are any better.

Originally Posted by Sticky

I prefer the narrower strops. 85% of my stropping is on a latigo 1.5" hanger,

I don't think the results are any better.

That sounds a bit narrow even for my taste... although....


I shall have to try that now . I think I've got some scrap something or other about that dimension.

A 2 1/2" is my favorite and I use a 2" occasionally................but, 90% of what I sell is still a 3". To me it is overkill but I suppose many like the straight up and back without the x-pattern. Or maybe it is that old USA, bigger is better thing.

Tony

I also prefer the 2-inch strops. I feel I have better control over making contact with the full length of the blade and there is no trouble with cupping -- well much less trouble, anyway.

I sent a note to SRD asking if they would make their higher-end or custom strops available in 2-inch versions and they said no.

Not sure which is the more appropriate smiley:

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I also prefer the 2-inch strops. I feel I have better control over making contact with the full length of the blade and there is no trouble with cupping -- well much less trouble, anyway.

I sent a note to SRD asking if they would make their higher-end or custom strops available in 2-inch versions and they said no.

Not sure which is the more appropriate smiley:

I didn't really need to be forced in to it because I wanted one any way, but when I went for horse, I got a TM because he sells them in 2". A 2" premium II would have been a nice option though, but I guess most guys who want that just get the 3". So far it sounds like there would be very few guys interested .