Thread: hanging strop vs. paddle strop

Though I've been using pasted hanging strops, I'm moving more to the mounted strops because it seems to me that touching up a razor with a pasted hanging strop kinda defeats the purpose because the flexibility and deflection of the strop results in a slight rounding of the razor's bevel; whereas, touching up the razor on a pasted paddle/bench strop, because of it being a solid surface, tends to maintain the bevel's configuration -- or so it seems to me.

I'd like to know your thoughts on the pasted hanging strop vs. the pasted mounted strops, please. And thanks in advance for sharing your insight.

I would tend to agree. But, I recently bought the Premium IV from SRD and now I would have nothing else unless they put that size and leather on a paddle strop. I like the solid surface of a paddle strop especially for beginners, but now that I have this new one, I wouldn't have anything else. I just fear its a little large to be made into a paddle style.

I've alway felt that paddles were best suited for pastes. I like my hanging strops for everyday stropping. I have two paddles that are pasted. I have SRD's new paddle, which is too nice to paste. I use it as is, either after honing, or just for regular stropping. It's excellent, nice draw, top shelf all the way....

I tend to agree with Zib. I have a TI paddle strop one side is pasted with ChrOx, the other side remains unpasted but aventually, I am going to pasted with 1 micron diamond paste. The hanging strop that I am using is a red latigo purchased from SRD. I do my everyday stropping in the red latigo. I must confess that I did round a few straights at the beginning, however, my stropping has improved with time. Let's no forget that stropping is a motor skill that needs to be developed.

I would agree that a paddles strong point is in pasted use, not daily unless one is cramped for space or simple has trouble with coordination in manipulating the long flexable hanging strop.

Hanging pasted strops have a large surface area making them an effective, fast working tool but rounding could be an issue with less than mindful use. Here too the harder the surface the more effective I feel, myself prefering a firm leather over cloth for pastes.

Each person seems to find his favorties, and often a bit of experimentation is needed. I have owned or made just about every configuration of strop but have again settled on just a few favorites. A medium width hanging strop w/linen for daily use, a pasted hanging leather strop for quick touchups (just a few quick passes) and a rigid, multi-sided paddle to buy time between honing sessions.

Pastes on cotton of felt, bench hones, etc... all have worked well and have their place but I think I could get by with just the three basics mentioned already and a select two (along with a stone) would really do all I need. A plain daily strop and either a multi-sided paddle OR a pasted leather hanging strop for use between trips to the stone. Which takes me full circle back to the basic 50 year old tool on every barber chair when I was a kid... a 2 part, Sharpen/Finish strop. Both sides leather, one side pasted with a mild paste.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I have owned or made just about every configuration of strop but have again settled on just a few favorites. A medium width hanging strop w/linen for daily use, a pasted hanging leather strop for quick touchups (just a few quick passes) and a rigid, multi-sided paddle to buy time between honing sessions.

If you had just one pasted hanging leather strop for touchups, what would you have it pasted with?

I'm with those who prefer a non pasted hanger for overall use and a paddle for pastes. I also like the hanging felt with diamond spray for certain situations.

Originally Posted by sffone

If you had just one pasted hanging leather strop for touchups, what would you have it pasted with?

I am using a horsehide strop with 0.25 micron diamond spray on it, but 0.5 would work just as well and faster.

Tony

Thank all your folks for your input. As I mentioned earlier, I had been using pasted hanging strops but was thinking that pasted paddle strops were a better way to go for more serious pasting work. And based on the feedback here, paddle strops are the way to go for all but the minor touchups. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by sffone

Thank all your folks for your input. As I mentioned earlier, I had been using pasted hanging strops but was thinking that pasted paddle strops were a better way to go for more serious pasting work. And based on the feedback here, paddle strops are the way to go for all but the minor touchups. Thanks again.

Don't forget barber hones also work great, as does the verrrrry inexpensive balsa wood with CrOx. I tend to use those over pasted strops and have no complaints.