Thread: Strops

Guys, I own about a dozen or so strops. I have a Dovo, Llama, Pigskin,
Scotch Lady, Maestro 2 sided strop, another 2 sided strop, a four
sided strop, a Hand American hanging and a few plated leather ones. I
have always liked both the leather and the linen of the Dovo strops,
but have seen a lot of new guys tear them up because they are so
supple. I really like the old Llama which is a Hanover product with a
thick real linen as well. At the end of the day, I get kind of stuck
between the hanging strop and the two sided. One thing I particulary
like in a strop is at least a width of 2 1/2 inches. What are you guys
using? Like? Dislike?

Thanks.

Lynn

I use a hanging Dovo and 4 sided Tony Miller. I switch around too, but I mostly keep the paddle at my workbench. The Dovo was my first strop and it has some war-wounds from the first week or so. If I only knew then......

I have one DOVO best russian, and one handmade strop from miliraty leather belt. The leather on that one is thicker than a DOVO's, and treated with DOVO yellow paste, is developing nice suction. On My DOVO strop I dislike the uneaven surface. One Q: Is the linnen supposed to... well, suck? I mean that sticky feeling you get on the leather?

Nenad

I use the 361 mostly with the linen and I do use both regularly. I've got a two sided paddle as well, but haven't been able to get it to perform as well as the 361. That day will come.

X

Both of my strops came from Tony, a 4 sided paddle and a hanging #2 strop. Both seem to be doing an excellent job!

RT

I have a Tony 2-sider, a Jemico Russian hanger, and a Dovo two-sider. I like em all, but the Jemico gets daily use. Wish it was a tad wider so I don't have to X on it to get the toe. Other than that, it's perfect. Beautiful work and the leather has aged and broken in well over the years, it's dark and shiny now, and keeps good drag on the blade.....Jeff

After buying a couple of unservicable e-bay specials at the start of my relatively short straight career, I salvaged the swivel off of one and made my strop from Keith's (HandAmerican) red finished leather 3" wide 24" long. Not much drag, but a perfectly wonderful strop. To answer the inevitable question, no, I've had no problem with a 3" wide strop curling or cupping on me. Still dead flat.

I have a Dovo single sided 23X3 1/4 wide Russian that I got from Classic which is absolutely the smoothist strop I own. Does a wonderful job. But I also got a strop from Tony Miller #2 with Linen and it is working extremely well. I tried one of the Dovo 24X2" with Linen, but it just simply was too narrow for my taste. Good leather, just to narrow. I have also tried several of the Illinois strops but not as pleased with them. I find the Linen way to stiff for my taste and the leather a bit too slick. Tony's strop really gives me the feel that the strop is working to smooth out edge.

jmsbcknr

Lynn,
I use an Illinois 361 hanging strop. I has linen on one side and a red leather on the other. As Tony Miller said the linen on this is pretty stiff. The leather seems to do pretty well. I just received a Dubl Duk strop. It has sealskin for the leather and silk linen for the material. I haven't use it yet but will shortly. Has anyone used a Dubl Duk strop like this one? I also have a four sided strop made by Tony Miller "heirphoto" which I use .50 diamond paste. This strop is really nice. It is very versatile in that it can give you two pastes plus two regular strop surfaces or you can have three pastes and the regular strop.

Bill Watkins

I have a few different strops, paddle strops and a belt or two.
The strops tthat I use the most are 2 1/2 inch wide models. The finest one is called a Mahogany and is super slick.

Today I got lucky and purchased two very large pieces of leather for $4.75 at an estate sale. I will be making some paddle strops and a regular strop from this material for my own use. Its about a 7 oz weight so not exactly as thick as I would like it for a traditional strop but for paddle strop's it will be just fine.

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