Thread: Retiring the "Roo"

I have decided to change the leather on my strop. When I went bought my new strop from SRD I decided to go with the 3" Roo because I learned to strop on a very old 2" probabaly latigo strop that I borrowed from a family member.

I had read the reviews before I purchased the strop so I was expecting a thin piece of leather but wow! This thing is super thin and even though I really like the strop and it didn't require any breaking in I have decided to retire it to just for travel purposes. I had expected a bit more draw from the leather and I honestly would have to say it is more light than a medium draw as advertised.

I love all of SRD's stuff and the Roo is no exception as far as quality goes but its very tricky to use. Until I got this strop I had never nicked or cut a piece of leather but this one has a few. I have a few small nicks near the edges nothing that would effect the quality of the edge the strop produces but just enough to aggrivate the crap out of me because I did it to new piece of leather. The reasons for the small nicks was not necessarly the result of poor technique or going to fast as I always roll on the spine and use a reasaonably slow but consistant motion. I would say if you plan on buying a Roo plan on taking extra time while stropping to learn to deal with the thickness of the leather.

This leather is so thin the tighter you pull it the more the edges bow up. I have never been the type to pull hard for my stropping. Basically just tight enough to keep it nice and flat with a tiny bit of bowing with light pressure. So when you pull this guy tight you really have to pay super close attention and be well into your forward motion before the cutting edge ever touches the leather and with such a light draw I'd say you almost need pronounced x strokes or wiper patters to keep from catching the edge. Hopefully this is helpful if you're considering the Roo as I would highly recommend it for travel but not for everyday use imo.

So I see a nice English Bridal piece of leather in my stropping future. That nice draw of the Bridal is a thing of beauty and I look forward to having a thicker piece of leather. Does anyone else use a Roo or have at least tried it? I don't regret buying the strop but it sure has made me miss a nice thick strop in my hands. I'm pretty sure I'm going with the English Bridal but I'd like to know what everyone else prefers as far as choice of leather and type of draw on your strop material. I like a good medium to almost heavy.

Yes, I have a 2" roo strop you would probably dislike & it has no nicks in it.
I really can't see how correct technique would nick any strop.

My preference is for fast horse or roo.

Tony,

There's tight/taut and then there's, well, other. I too had an issue with "tight/taut". Taut to me was very tight, rigid. I had the same issue you're having with the Buffalo, Premium I, and other thicker strops. I found I was pulling so hard on the handle of the strop that I was elongating the holes in the strop/handle attachment causing the strop to bow. It really came home one morning when I was having trouble keeping the strop taut. I was standing on a towel and looked down and realized I was sliding gently across the floor from the tautness on the strop.

With the Roo, I hold my index finger straight across the Roo just in front of the handle and without gripping the strop. That slight pull is more than sufficient for that strop. I find that about 1/2 to 1 inch of slack from light pressure from the razor while stropping is very beneficial with the Roo and allows the Roo, being thin and flexible, to easily flatten with the blade by not being under tension. You might give it a try.

My favorite strop, but often too much "tight" works against you. Give it a try! I think you might like the results.

Best Regards,

Howard