Thread: Holding a hanging strop

Gentlemen,
I hold both strops. No particular reason, really, except that I have always done it that way.

Gentlemen, I appreciate the responses. I am getting a very firm "either way -- stropper's preference" as the definitive answer. I think I can put this hurdle behind me.

When I first started stropping, the dangling strop would swing enough to make me stop and steady it , then begin again. I my have been wrong, but I figured it from bad technique. So I made a point to learn how to strop with out the swinging. Seems to work ok for me.

I hold both. I can just keep moving onto the felt or linen with just a flip of the hand without having to stop. Plus the other piece would just be flopping around, and I think I would find that annoying. this is on a strop where both pieces are connected.

I've done it both ways, usually one component at a time. I'll hold both for particular strops where the second component swings.

Originally Posted by mumpig

I can't believe this question isn't addressed somewhere in this forum but I haven't found it yet. So, when you hold a hanging strop, and assuming your strop has both a leather and linen strop fastened together at the top, do you hold both strops together as you work or just the side you are stropping on and let the other piece just dangle? I had seen it done both ways and started out holding both together. But then I saw a video with the side not being used just dangling so started trying it that way. I think I have more control and feel but thought I would see how others handle this, especially those with more experience than I have.

That's a good question and I'll be honest with you in that I never gave it any thought. I hold both together, but I was never told to or not to do so. I'm guessing that it doesn't matter.

Until today, I only held one at time.

That was because my old strop only had one piece.

NOW, I'm uptown with a fancy schmancy two piece with a linen strop and a horsehide.

Holding both of them together seems to work just fine and feels more comfortable to me.

Originally Posted by Wullie

Until today, I only held one at time.

wullie

you are my hero!