Which Tony Miller Strop???

Hi

I was looking at Tony Miller's strops and i am trying to choose between the following two.
I mailed Tony he said there is nothing in it only the draw one being lighter than the other, he said it is a matter of taste.
As i have little experience i woundered which people here prefered??

Heirloom #1 BEST Wide 3" Red Latigo Hanging Strop (More Draw)

Heirloom #1 BEST Wide 3" Vintage Honey Brown Hanging Strop (Less Draw)

I have only ever used the red latigo, and its been perfect, the draw gives me a better feel of what Im doing and I think helps me keep the blade from moving vertically while I am stropping. I am not sure what benefit having less draw would provide, as red latigo was the only choice when buying my last few strops. I really dont think there would be any benefit to less draw other than perhaps just personal preference, and that I can help you with. Tony has always done a superb job of guiding me when buying a strop, have you considered asking him? He is very honest and will really try to help without regard to prices, in fact often times he has saved me money by telling me what I didnt need.

I have the red latigo also. I'm very happy with it.

I think that the Honey Brown leather is an option for people looking for a more "traditional" looking strop.

Ray

The Honey Brown leather does not have any oils or waxes impregnated into it so wouldfeel more like a commercially made Dovo, Jemico or Illinois strop would. Being untreated is easier to do your own thing on as each dressing (or lack of dressing) will create a different feel. I use mine plain, untreated as a finishing strop after using my red latigo or instead of it sometimes. You can use tradional strop dressings, lexol, Neat's Foot Oil, etc... and get a variety of surface effects. This would aslo be a good choice for guys into the pumicing, etc....

The red latigo seems to perfom it's best when left alone although I know some guys have worked these over too.

So, in short, the red latigo behaves like a well dressed strop with lots of draw and that is why I introduced it. It behaves differently than the commercial strops then on the market. The Honey Brown is a more natural feel leather and will be very much like a new commerically made strop that has not yet been dressed and has a smooth surface, not buffed like a Jemico has.

One is not really better, just different.

Tony

If the additional draw stops the spine from being lifted from the leather that would be an advantage. I have got one blade that often lifts its spine (sounds like it got a mind of its own doesn't it?).

Thank you for your opinions guy's much appreciated.

Looks like the Red Latigo it is then!!

You'll be pleased with it. I have the #2 in red latigo, and I've never regretted it.

I recently recieved my Latigo and honey 3" strops from Tony. All that can be said is; They are top top quality and perfom very well.

PuFF

The Red Latigo is nice choice, it creates drag with no effort, in any condition of the blade. I prefer to get a bit more response for the razor's condition from untreated leather, though...

Nenad

Thank you for all your advise, you will all be pleased to know that i have ordered a 3" Red Latigo strop from Tony.

Thanks

Tom

thought I would pass this on to you now you have ordered the 3" Latigo. DON'T break in the strop, use it as is to see how it feels. I tried breaking it in the traditional way and caused myself more work than was needed. I next tried 1000 grit wet and dry paper on the practice latigo strop Tony supplied with mine. This 1000 grit wet&dry worked a treat to polish the surface and even out the texture. Go gentle with it though. Also, I believe that strop dressing fluid is not needed for quite some time on a Latigo due to the high oil content of the leather.
Great strop though. :tu for Tony

PuFF

Puff brings up a good point and one I advsie people on all the time. Every type of strop will behave differently because of what leather it is made from, often each individual strop made from the same type of leather will still behave differently since we are dealing with a natural material. He and I exchanged some very informative e-mails on his methods for preparing strops but not all will be good for latigo but sound like great methods for other leathers.

I know many guys here will do all sorts of interesting steps to break in a strop to get a desired feel. Please try your strops first for a week, as they are right from the box before making changes. While I include dressing with each hanging strop I rarely use it myself on the Latigo as it comes pre-dressed with oils and waxes in the leather from tanning. Give it a week before fooling with it and deciding if it needs adjustment.

Lathering, saddle soaping, mink oils, Pecard's, Lexol, Fromm's, etc....will all create different feels. Some for the better, some for the worse. use the latigo plain or with my dressing or with Lexol if you must.

Now one very worthwhile addition and one I am experimenting with came from Puff.....sanding with very fine paper to rasise a napp on the leather. The red on my paddles come to me this way from the tannery but the heavy hides do not. The sanding does add a nice feel to the strop.

If it ain't broke (yet <g>), don't fix it.

Thanks, Tony