Thread: Strop width recommendation

I've seen so many negative things about felt as a secondary that I'm not including the "Big Daddy" strop on my list. Maybe later once I have some baseline for comparison though.

Originally Posted by athair

The way this works in my family is I put together a list and I will get something off it. If I just ask for one thing I MAY get it but I may not. So I'm going to be getting maybe three 3" strops (with links to specific strops) on a list. I was thinking an SRD, an american mountain, and whipped dog rich man.

My family does things pretty much the same. If you give them 3 different choices,without preference, you will end up with the cheapest one,not necessarily the best one. I suggest you use just one line.......SRD Gift Certificate. I would rather have a little help getting the best gear, than to get something less than top shelf.

I find I like a 2 1/2" width, the X pattern needed is really not noticed to me during stropping.
It seems to me the natural motion covers it?

For me, I definitely like the full three inches.

I've used strops of 2", 2.5" and 3" widths, and just being able to do straight up and down strokes makes a big difference to the effectiveness of my technique - so much so that when I stropped a newly-acquired Filarmonica with a 3.25" long blade and had to do slight x-strokes, it felt weird and I was much slower (not that speed really matters, but when I'm doing 50 or 60 strokes I don't want to be all day at it).

And the only width strop* I've never nicked is a 3" (now that I've said that, just watch me go and slice up a nice piece of 3" latigo )

(*out of those I've used - I've also never nicked a 4" one, or a 1.5" one, etc)

Originally Posted by gssixgun

To make the assumption the a 3" strop now allows the razor to go straight up and down the strop would be a mistake, to make the assumption that a 3" strop allows you more versatility in which pattern to use would be correct...

Thank you Glen, this can't be stated enough.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

To make the assumption the a 3" strop now allows the razor to go straight up and down the strop would be a mistake, to make the assumption that a 3" strop allows you more versatility in which pattern to use would be correct...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Thank you Glen, this can't be stated enough.

My main issue right now is that the strop I'm using is only 2" wide and only has about 8" of usable length, so it's not a natural motion at all for me to strop the whole length of the blade. And so I feel much more like swinging to the far side and going with a 3" just because that "feels" less restrictive.

I'd say it's the 8" length that's the real problem here. You have to get a rhythm with stropping and it also needs a certain pace to be effective. The length of your strop is just not enough to allow this.

I can see that, but I think the cramped feeling I now have associated with stropping is still going to push me into a 3" strop just because it'll feel lest restricting.

If you want to ask for a 3" that eliminates any "curling" variables go for the paddle strop from SRD. 3" of smooth leather on one side and 3" of rough leather on the other. I have one and it is my favorite.

2.5 inch,thats the optimal width IMO