Thread: Straight Razor Design's (SRD) 3" Roo Strop

Originally Posted by Phrank

Well, my SRD Roo Strop with the coarse / pressed linen backing option just arrived. Certainly is a looker!
..
And the option add-on of the coarse linen, when I hit that a few times, a cloud of white dust (chalk or something similar to the Dovo White / Grey paste) came out of the linen side, excellent, it's impregnated then with a mild abrasive which will be even better for the blades. This seems to be one of those go-to strops IMO.

Whoa! Are they available now with real linen? If so, gots to get me some! I was under the impression that only the "premium fabric" was available.. a cotton product. If that is the case, it is sized with chalk, which is abrasive but is very, very fine. I think the grit level is just under that of water.

I really like a linen prep strop but for some reason the strop makers are having trouble getting it in three inch widths. I'd like to find a manila hemp strop too which, as anyone who has ever received a rope burn from a real manila rope knows, is quite abrasive and should make a great prep/cleanup strop. (No, it's not the smoking kind of hemp although I understand that strop fabric from that source is available too.)

rs,
Tack

Originally Posted by Tack

Whoa! Are they available now with real linen? If so, gots to get me some! I was under the impression that only the "premium fabric" was available.. a cotton product. If that is the case, it is sized with chalk, which is abrasive but is very, very fine. I think the grit level is just under that of water.

I really like a linen prep strop but for some reason the strop makers are having trouble getting it in three inch widths. I'd like to find a manila hemp strop too which, as anyone who has ever received a rope burn from a real manila rope knows, is quite abrasive and should make a great prep/cleanup strop. (No, it's not the smoking kind of hemp although I understand that strop fabric from that source is available too.)

rs,
Tack

Yes, under the backing option, I selected 100% Hard Pressed Wool Felt, and it's definitely impregnated with a fine abrasive. Literally just finished taking another razor for a ride on it, used my NOS Filly #13, and the strop really performs. The Felt side left the razor with a fine coating of powder which easily wiped off, and the Roo leather side, where I'd read it had a tendency to cup, I had no problem with. Held it like my other strop and it worked exceptionally well, really terrific feedback on this strop, akin to the Illinois #827 but much smoother.

The Illinois and the Roo share very similar design goals IMO, both with the impregnated felt sides, and both with a good medium to heavy draw, with the Roo seeming a little more refined. In addition to the extra length and width of the Roo strop at 3" it is a superb strop.

I was skeptical about how it would stand up against the #827, but it turns out, at least IMO, that they have far more in common than in differences, and to have a second go-to strop, the Roo strop is a winner.

edited to add: should add that all strops obviously have the same design goals in mind - to maintain the edge of the razor. What I meant to say was more in relation to the similarity in draw and the treated linen / felt sides.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Yes, under the backing option, I selected 100% Hard Pressed Wool Felt, and it's definitely impregnated with a fine abrasive.

Ohhhhhh.. you said "linen", sorry.. rats.. <wanders away mumbling>

rs,
Tack

Edit: Yes, the Ilinois 827 backup strop is cotton canvas, I have one myself. That's my preferred post-shave "cleanup" strop.

Originally Posted by Tack

Ohhhhhh.. you said "linen", sorry.. rats.. <wanders away mumbling>

rs,
Tack

Edit: Yes, the Ilinois 827 backup strop is cotton canvas, I have one myself. That's my preferred post-shave "cleanup" strop.

Doh, sorry, got a my mords wixed up....did you just order? If you did, email them and get them to change it...sure it would be no problem.

Heh, no worry.. no harm, no foul.


rs,
Tack

ps- I'm told that the 'roo, like Cordovan shell, is thin enough that cupping is not a problem.. it just pulls right out even if it does cup

I'm seriously considering pulling the trigger on this strop very soon. All I have now is the SRD paddle strop w/ rough leather. As that is my first and only strop, I'm confused as to which 2 material I should choose. Does on perform better than the others? What are the differences in the performance of the different materials? Thanks in advance for all your help and advice.

Originally Posted by guthriemt

I'm seriously considering pulling the trigger on this strop very soon. All I have now is the SRD paddle strop w/ rough leather. As that is my first and only strop, I'm confused as to which 2 material I should choose. Does on perform better than the others? What are the differences in the performance of the different materials? Thanks in advance for all your help and advice.

I like the Roo strop. I'm a fan of a heavier draw, especially with the majority of my blades being 7/8 or larger. I am satisfied with the strop, it's a nice strop no questions asked, and would easily suffice as the main strop. I opted for the add-on 100% Pressed Felt Backing, and that stuff is fantastic, it's essentially a pasted linen strop. I have an only 2" Dovo strop, with the linen backing, and I had pasted the linen with the Dovo White / Grey paste, it's a mild abrasive, aids in the stropping, and it appears very similar to this.

Can't go wrong with the Roo strop, it's very similar to my Illinois #827 strop, which is an awesome strop IMO. I still can't decide which I like more. It seems they're both equally good strops, with the Roo strop bein 3" and the #827 bein 2.5" and a little shorter. I'd be hard pressed to pick between the two.

Good thread and review by the original poster - thanks! I just happened to have take delivery of my own SRD 3" Roo today and hooked it into the "hardware" that previously held a 3" Premium II. The second strop behind the leather is always felt or linen which I'll continue to use.

First impression is that the Roo gives an almost zero draw feel and it almost feels like I'm stropping on a piece of thin plastic. That's not a taking a shot at the strop, it just feels that way after using leather for years. But no matter what it feels like, if it helps to keep a fine edge I'll love it!

Question for those of you that are current Roo aficionados - how does one condition and maintain Roo? The dryness up here means I have basically zero hand oils to rub on a strop so I normally apply a wee bit of Neatsfoot to my leather every month. Will that work on Roo or does it need something else (if anything at all)?

Originally Posted by AirColorado

Question for those of you that are current Roo aficionados - how does one condition and maintain Roo? The dryness up here means I have basically zero hand oils to rub on a strop so I normally apply a wee bit of Neatsfoot to my leather every month. Will that work on Roo or does it need something else (if anything at all)?

I'll be interested to hear what people say to that. Some time ago I resigned myself to simply using my palm and so far, so good. ??

Originally Posted by AirColorado

Question for those of you that are current Roo aficionados - how does one condition and maintain Roo? The dryness up here means I have basically zero hand oils to rub on a strop so I normally apply a wee bit of Neatsfoot to my leather every month. Will that work on Roo or does it need something else (if anything at all)?

Had mine for almost two years and haven't condition it with anything as of yet. Have a second one brand new that I use for travel and both perform equally IMO. The old one look abuse with scratches all over the strop, and some mild cuts at the bottom. Occasionally I would pass my palm up and down, more checking for debris than conditioning.

When I see it and compare to the new one, makes me want to do something about it (sanded and condition it), but why mess with what's working?

So to answer your question, I don't see them needing conditioning for a long time! Double O