Thread: Do you really need to cloth strop ?

Quantifying stropping in terms of laps can be difficult because of differences in technique and differences among strops.

I'm presently using 30 laps on linen and then at least 60 laps on Premium I leather on my paddle strop. The paddle strop is a good strop for beginners to start with, but my experience has been that it requires more laps. The linen seems to bring the edge into sharpness quicker than leather, but the leather then goes on to refine that edge nicely.

Originally Posted by RML

On a shave ready razor do you need to strop with the cloth every time before you use the leather ?

No you don't have to , but I do . I've tried leather only , a few times , and I think stropping on the linen first , does make a difference .

Try thinking on a microscopic level for a minute. If you look VERY closely your will see that the edge of your razor is actually jagged. As you shave these little zig zags get bent out of shape, and some almost break off. Like a hanging chad.

The linen on your strop works on a microscopic level as well. The tiny little fibers of the strop snags those little buggers and cleans the edge. The strength of the fibers in your linen will help determine how effective your stopping is.

At this point you get the canvas vs cotton vs wool vs poly rhetoric. They all do the job.

With that preparation the leather forces the jagged edge back into as uniform line as possible. The more uniform the line the keener your edge.

And THEN there's draw! Interesting topic as well.

I'm a linen/leather guy myself, so yes, having a material component is a definite asset IMO. I also think it prolongs the time between touch ups.

Here is a past thread to read

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...en-cotton.html


You might really want to look at post #16 I could go grab another strop right now and show you the exact same pics again

There are micro particles that come off the edges... I would rather have the Linen look like that so I can brush it out or even wash it out. rather than digging it's way into my good leather...

Plus like most of the guys said I think it works better too

Funny thing--
I cannot feel a difference in the cutting action if I skip the fabric for a use, BUT, my skin gets redder and I have trouble with little pustules and other side-effects of harsh exfoliating unless I use the fabric each time. Ergo, on some level, it is smoothing things out on a level too fine for my nerves to pick up on, but more than significant enough for my skin to appreciate!

Most strops have a dual component of linen/leather & some have dual leather but the general concept seems to be a sacrificial side & a polishing side... My 2ç

I only know my black juchten leather with tan leather works fantastic. the black juchten is so soft with alot of draw and the tan side extra hard with hardly any draw, but still enough draw to strop ultra fast.

I've also nicked the sides a couple of times bt still have the majority of the strop to use

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Here is a past thread to read

Is linen neccessary + The difference between linen and cotton - Straight Razor Place Forums


You might really want to look at post #16 I could go grab another strop right now and show you the exact same pics again

There are micro particles that come off the edges... I would rather have the Linen look like that so I can brush it out or even wash it out. rather than digging it's way into my good leather...

Plus like most of the guys said I think it works better too

FWIW, I have a SRD Felt/leather strop which I started on about 13 months ago. I use the felt prior to using the leather. I have only used one side. One side has the gray tint to it, the other is clean as in Glen's photo.

Arguably not, and I know there are folks that dont, but I prefer the results when I use both fabric and cloth. JMHO of course and YMMV.