I agree. I just thought more expensive meant better results.
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Exactly.
Feel and personal preference.
I personally prefer the lighter draw of vintage shell and narrow strops. I have 3" but hardly use it because of the heavy draw. Haven't gotten to try shell at 3" and don't really see a need. The narrower strops work just fine.
Personally if I never tried another strop I'm content with mine. Because I get good results. Just thought there were better results to be had on a better strop
Perhaps because most of our strops are made from pastured animals...the grass is always greener..?
True that. I could blow a fortune trying new products and it might just turn out that way!
In my opinion it is definitely about feel and preference, and not just price.
My $85 SRD strop works just as well as my ugly, homemade $10 strop, but the SRD strop looks better hanging in my bathroom and my homemade strop looks better hanging in my workshop.
Just to echo what everyone else said, they all do the same thing as long as it's a quality strop. Maybe if you spend a wad on a strop just using it makes you feel better and that may translate to you doing a better job stropping. Who knows?
I had a strop form a kit that was tooo small so I bought a piece of horses butt. It has a smooth grain compared to other critters. I burnished it to make it even smoother. Think (shell) (cordavan) (whatever) No draw and as slick as my face when I am done shaving. I have worked leather for 30 years. Not making strops or anything professional. The belt I am wearing I made, My 100 year old saddle has stirrups I made myself to save the old ones. Would I like a nice Neil Miller strop? Hell yes :<0) I just can't get past myself. I have the tools and the knowledge so I am sort of stuck. Stropping with confidence and purpose is done when your happy with what you using. Get what ever it takes to get you there.