Thread: Strop Backing Material Comparison?

Originally Posted by joshf128

OP here. Any opinions on Felt? I've been looking at the OVB strips at Star Shaving that use this as a backer.

Felt isn't all that expensive. Give it a try. My felt strop is hanging in the closet unused. I prefer linen and polyester.

The linen strop is used to clean your bevel and edge, realign the edge and polishing the bevel and edge, depending on the material.

The rough leather back is not designed for stropping and can damage the edge, unless it has been prepared to a suede finish like the Nakayama strops.

The Linen strop can be real linen, nylon, polyester canvas, cotton canvas, cloth, nylon or polyester weave strapping or any other weaved fabric.

While felt can be use, it is not as abrasive as above and is better for paste and polishing.

In my experience linen, nylon strapping and Polyester Canvas are the best materials, though all will work, just more laps.

All of the above make great paste substrates as the paste is held by the weave and the top threads polish as the paste cuts.

I prefer linen - but I used synthetic webbing for a long time without issue. I think the linen is a bit more aggressive than the synthetic materials, tends to be a more loose weave making it more pliable and is often thinner making it more flexible which tends to keep it on the edge better.

I think the softer and more pliable the leather the better - cordovan is my newest favorite. Pricey but strops last forever if used properly - especially cordovan strops.

John