Thread: Different Draws

Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

I mean, some people say I start with "so and so" strop and finish with a SRD Premium 1.

Basically its just what works for each of us..is it a mental state...maybe...lol. Or maybe its what we've proven to ourselves.
I have an SRD Latigo and a Natural as well as a pasted paddle and a Dovo Strop. For me after I hone or when I shave I usually go to the Latigo first as it has more draw and then finish off on the natural as its slicker...does it make any real difference..in all honesty I doubt it...both do the same in the end

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

Basically its just what works for each of us..is it a mental state...maybe...lol. Or maybe its what we've proven to ourselves.
I have an SRD Latigo and a Natural as well as a pasted paddle and a Dovo Strop. For me after I hone or when I shave I usually go to the Latigo first as it has more draw and then finish off on the natural as its slicker...does it make any real difference..in all honesty I doubt it...both do the same in the end

So to you, the Latigo is a 8000 stone and the Natural is a 12000 stone?

I got a shell strop a couple of months ago, and it's got almost no draw at all. In my experience with it, that light draw makes my edges better. Might be a gazebo effect, or a placebo effect, or might really be happening. I don't use my latigo strop at all any more, and my Chicago steerhide just gets used for post-shave cleanup stropping.

I know of one user who swears his extra-hollow blades work significantly better off the zero-draw shell strop, but I cannot speak to particular relationships from my own experience. I just like light-draw strops now, for all my blades, now that I've experienced one.

I also have the SRD modular paddle--that's a good tool.

Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

So to you, the Latigo is a 8000 stone and the Natural is a 12000 stone?

lol...ummm..nope. My finishing stone when I hone is about 15k. The strop merely aligns the edge. For me its all in my head..I think...lol. The quicker draw on the natural allows me a slightly faster stroke..just a different feel. I use both to justify the need for them both to hang there...but in all honesty for me they do the same thing.

Don't get overly obsessed about it. Sometimes, we overcomplicate things around here

Draw is just the feeling of a strop. Some prefer one way, some another. Whether it affects your edges in any noticeable way will be more dependent on your technique than on the draw, provided you have a decent, smooth piece of leather.

I was informed a few years ago by the CEO of Fromm Int'l, Bill Simon, the son of the founder of the Illinois Razor Strop Company (now Fromm), and who worked in strop production for many years, that generally shell strops were considered best (within the barbering community) for full hollow ground razors, and Russia strops for the thicker wedge razors which was often the "starter" razor for barber college students.

Originally Posted by honedright

I was informed a few years ago by the CEO of Fromm Int'l, Bill Simon, the son of the founder of the Illinois Razor Strop Company (now Fromm), and who worked in strop production for many years, that generally shell strops were considered best (within the barbering community) for full hollow ground razors, and Russia strops for the thicker wedge razors which was often the "starter" razor for barber college students.

Now that's going to be in the back of my head....I got to get a shell strop now! LOL

As long as the tanned animal ass isn't my own, it's good! Draw just gives you a little 'feedback' as to what you're doing. I rub my hand over my strop about 50 good hard and fast strokes to heat up the leather and give me a little more draw or feedback as opposed to a cold, hard strop. I like the little bit of extra 'grab' I get from doing that, and the oils from my hands naturally condition the strop as well.

Originally Posted by honedright

I was informed a few years ago by the CEO of Fromm Int'l, Bill Simon, the son of the founder of the Illinois Razor Strop Company (now Fromm), and who worked in strop production for many years, that generally shell strops were considered best (within the barbering community) for full hollow ground razors, and Russia strops for the thicker wedge razors which was often the "starter" razor for barber college students.

The Horse strops were considered best by barbers because they were heavy duty and thick and last forever. It had nothing to do with the result. No barber I ever saw had two strops hanging from his chair. They had only one leather one. Unless you're talking way way back in the late 1800s or very early 1900s wedge razors fell out of favor with barbers once hollow grinds came out and became popular. Very few barbers used wedges. Maybe a few real old timers who learned the trade in the 1800s.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The Horse strops were considered best by barbers because they were heavy duty and thick and last forever. It had nothing to do with the result. No barber I ever saw had two strops hanging from his chair. They had only one leather one. Unless you're talking way way back in the late 1800s or very early 1900s wedge razors fell out of favor with barbers once hollow grinds came out and became popular. Very few barbers used wedges. Maybe a few real old timers who learned the trade in the 1800s.

I was just repeating what Mr. Simon told me. Whether or not he was correct or accurate, I don't know. Because of his involvement with IRS Co, I believe he is credible.