New people and 3" strops

Is it just me or is there a lot of people suggesting a new straight user to go with a 3" strop?

In my personal opinion a 3" strop is not the best for a beginner. A 2.5" would be better. I see people saying to get a 3" so you don't have to learn the x-stroke while stropping. IMHO it's completely the wrong line of thought. The x-stroke is very important to know. If you learn to strop with an x-stroke you learn a better technique, therefore you will have better results.

If you learn to just go straight up and back you may miss some of the blade. That also transitions into honing if you choose to learn.

To sum up, I personally think learning to strop on a 2.5" strop is the best way to learn. Then once you have experience try something new.

Of course this is just my opinion and a pet peace of mine.

Agree 100% for a hanger, X stroke or windshield wiper type Stroke should be learned,A hard Paddle is a diff story,Maybe.

Absolutely no reason you can't perform X-strokes on a 3" strop, IMO

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Originally Posted by Siguy

Absolutely no reason you can't perform X-strokes on a 3" strop, IMO

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Of Course you can,But newbs feel with a 3in, strop,all that is needed is an up and down stroke,thats wrong IMO

it s like so many other things you learn ,,, do it the right way step by step till your good enough to get creative , but if you stick with the basics the first time you wont have to break your bad habits later on I started on a 2" strop , had to do the x stroke ,, now I just naturally do it no matter what strop I use 3" or 2" tc

X marks the spot. X a question and get an answer. Xed it out. X my heart and hope to... X is an essential part of living. Mark your ballot with an X in the right place. Acquire many X's via bad marriages. Forgotten how to write, X your signature. I'd swear that an X movement is more natural to the human frame than back and forth or up and down or side to side. Extol the value of X in any mathematical formula. Cross eyed is an X look. So, newbie's learn the X stroke in stropping and you will reap X amount of rewards for it.

Check this box. LOL.

I learned X strokes, windshield washer strokes, etc. on the hones. Whenever I go to the 3", I do it on them without thinking.

I think the idea behind recommending a newbie get a 3" is to take some of the initial difficulty out of the start up process. It certainly helped me... and others, or so I've heard ;)

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Originally Posted by Siguy

I learned X strokes, windshield washer strokes, etc. on the hones. Whenever I go to the 3", I do it on them without thinking.

I think the idea behind recommending a newbie get a 3" is to take some of the initial difficulty out of the start up process. It certainly helped me... and others, or so I've heard ;)

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And -- as many have written, and many have learned -- using a 3"-wide bench strop (aka "paddle strop") takes much-if-not-all the worry about "turning" a blade's edge out of the equation. As for me, I'm big on those "windshield wiper" strokes... "Windshield wipers slappin' time..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTHRg_iSWzM

I learned about X's long before all you guys did,,,,,,,,,,,:beer2:

Since 1st grade, all my work sheets were full of X's,,,,small ones, great big ones that covered the whole paper, lots of red ones,,,, I've experienced all kinds of X strokes,,,, X's ain't nothing new. :beer2:

I use a 3" hanging strop, and do a windscreen wiper stroke, after i read one of pixels posts some time ago, definately just up and down isnt ideal, if your blade or strop arent flat.

Im reasonably new (less than 6 months) and have been trying different things on my SRD paddle strop. Lately I've been trying a zigzag motion, with the spine leading and edge trailing as I move down the length of the strop. I do roughly 1/3 passes like this, 1/3 straight and 1/3 windshield wiper style, and so far that has given me the smoothest shaves to date. Can't comment on hanging strops, as I only have the whipped dog poor mans strop and since getting the paddle strop, the paddle is the only one I use.

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

X marks the spot. X a question and get an answer. Xed it out. X my heart and hope to... X is an essential part of living. Mark your ballot with an X in the right place. Acquire many X's via bad marriages. Forgotten how to write, X your signature. I'd swear that an X movement is more natural to the human frame than back and forth or up and down or side to side. Extol the value of X in any mathematical formula. Cross eyed is an X look. So, newbie's learn the X stroke in stropping and you will reap X amount of rewards for it.

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Exactamundo.

From my own personal experience, a new guy can nick/cut a strop just as easily be it 2-1/2" or 3". :)

I started with 2-1/2", went to 3", than back to 2-1/2". I'm a firm believer in the X stroke but if the strop is good and flat I hear that the straight up and back is also effective.

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Exactamundo.

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Surely you mean x-actamundo.... :)

Regards,
Neil

I have 1.5" strops, 2" strops, 2.5" strops along with 3" strops. For a dedicated straight razor
shaver I think you need to be able to strop on all size of widths. The less wide strops can generally be had for much less money and when you may have a chance to buy a beautiful
2.5" strop that you want your skillset will alow you to with no worries.

"All my X's live in Texas"

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Originally Posted by Steel

"All my X's live in Texas"

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My uncle out in Texas can't even write his name.
He signs his checks with "x's"
But they cash them just the same.
If you saw my pa and ma,
You'd know they had no learning,
Still they've raised a family
Doin' what comes naturally...

Regards,
Neil

What the "X" have I started? But we do need more xamples.

I can't think of a single valid reason to recomend a hanging 3" strop for a beginner.
As to the the Xs.....
The X followed by wife has certainly caused me more greif than I care to admit.

Can't spell great eithr!!

As a newer str8 user, one of the reasons to start with a 3" strop is so that you can get a good shave while learning how to strop properly. I started with a 2" strop and wasn't hitting the toe enough. I switched to a 3" strop, problem solved. My shaves got more pleasant and I got control of the X stroke. A month later and I was able to return to the 2" strop without any problems.
Just a newbie's thoughts.

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

What the "X" have I started? But we do need more xamples.

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I have a teddy bear with wonky eyes who likes hymns - I call him Gladly - Gladly The X-eyed Bear :gaah:

...groan...
Neil

I think a shorter hanging strop is the ticket, and 2-2 1/2" wide. My theory is a shorter strop doesn't twist AS much, and keeps my arms reach in a comfortable controlled motion. I've had a 2.5", 3" and 2" wide and all were longer @ 21" +. I cut every single one to the point of uselessness. I made a 2"x18" strop (copied from a vintage) and problem solved. So everyone has their own thing that works for them... Definitely agree on not suggesting a 3" strop to start out on. Need to learn your X's

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I have a teddy bear with wonky eyes who likes hymns - I call him Gladly - Gladly The X-eyed Bear :gaah:

...groan...
Neil

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Groan is right. I have a Paddington Bear. He can't sing, thankfully, but he does give me the cold eyed stare on occasion. Then I make him sit facing the corner for awhile. (Where's my therapist when I need him?):aargh:

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Groan is right. I have a Paddington Bear. He can't sing, thankfully, but he does give me the cold eyed stare on occasion. Then I make him sit facing the corner for awhile. (Where's my therapist when I need him?):aargh:

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Only one therapist? That poor guy is certainly overworked with you on his books... :)

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Only one therapist? That poor guy is certainly overworked with you on his books... :)

Regards,
Neil

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That does it! I'm sending you a Friendship Request. It is my duty to keep track of aberrant minds like mine in case of societal apocalypse.

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Originally Posted by Steel

"All my X's live in Texas"

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But does George Strait shave with one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMNw_-yUm_0

I have only had a 3" hanging strop since starting a year ago & I have always done an X or arching (windscreen wiper) stroke on it also with all razors from the get go.
If you are slack and don't use a X stroke you will pay with reduced shave quality in the long run it is the practitioner not the equipment that makes the biggest difference.
the same applies to the majority of recommended hones being 3" wide for the same reason as they pretty can well use the same X stroke techniques to get the full edge - just pushing instead of pulling
I don't think a narrower strop or hone will teach you a better stroke technique just a different variation of one

This is just my thoughts though.

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Surely you mean x-actamundo.... :)

Regards,
Neil

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You beat me to it, good job i read on before replying

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Groan is right. I have a Paddington Bear. He can't sing, thankfully, but he does give me the cold eyed stare on occasion. Then I make him sit facing the corner for awhile. (Where's my therapist when I need him?):aargh:

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One of my X girlfriends called her evil eyes look a paddington bear stare, evidently his dead soulless eyes are universally recognised

With one exception, I've only used 3" strops and done regular out and back laps . About two years ago I bought a 2" strop because I figured I should learn to use a narrow strop, and I was curious as to whether the
x-stroke would make a difference. I've used that 2" strop often. My conclusion is that for me, it makes no difference which strop width and stroke I use.

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Originally Posted by TheLegalRazor

With one exception, I've only used 3" strops and done regular out and back laps . About two years ago I bought a 2" strop because I figured I should learn to use a narrow strop, and I was curious as to whether the
x-stroke would make a difference. I've used that 2" strop often. My conclusion is that for me, it makes no difference which strop width and stroke I use.

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Same here, have used 3 inch strops almost exclusively since starting. Dragged out a used Marshall Wells narrow strop today, mostly because of this thread, to try out. Hated it when I first got it and put it away. Used it today to strop tomorrows razor and found it tolerable to use. I am not expecting to see much of a difference but you never know.

Bob

my experience was i got frustrated with the 21/2 and 2 days later bought a 3" maybe i cheated but i felt more comfortable on the bigger strop with my x and c type strokes .. now i have no problem with my smaller strop but have pasted it so it isnt used that much anymore ...

Grab the end of the strop and give 'er hell. Full speed ahead. Then shave.

Shaved with the razor stropped on the 2 inch Marshall Wells strop this morning and could not feel any difference in edge prep over the 3 inch strops I have been using. OTH will continue to use the 2 inch strop just to get used to it and doing X strokes.

Bob

Well, I am new to all this, and I am receiving my first strop in the mail today. It's a 2.5 in. I have looked at the videos about x-stropping, and I feel it is something I can definitely learn.