Thread: I swore to myself I wouldn't get obsessive. I should have known better.

I just ordered a replacement 3" linen strop from SRD. Right now I have a leather/webbing strop. It is working far beyond my skill level. My razors are shaving to the point (I think) that any sub-standard shaves can be blamed on my shaving technique more and not the razor's edge. So if the webbing strop is working fine as a coarser strop compared to the leather why do I feel like my life will be incomplete unless I at least try a linen strop? I actually almost put the felt strop on the order also but I don't want to complicate things. I want to force myself to only use the webbing or linen for comparison. I might try the felt later. I'm still too new at this obsession to try to cram too much information too fast. A very nice person here informed me of Tandy's site for leather and hardware. Looks like I can get everything I need to make another strop from any replacement pieces I get.

Question. My leather strop has a whole lot of drag when I pick it up and use it. But if I rub my hand on it until it gets warm the razor slides much easier. Should I rub the leather prior to stropping? You guys have said that is all a leather strop really needs. It's a new strop. Or should I rub it with my hand after I strop just to get skin oils into the leather? Does the additional friction improve the results or should the razor slide more freely? If anyone says "do what's best for you" I'm gonna shoot myself. Just kidding.

I have seen it recommended, by Lynn IIRC, to palm rub before stropping. Certainly can't hurt anything and probably helps. I would do it if I remember before I get going. I prefer linen to other options. It is the traditional material used for more than a hundred years, by barbers to prep their razors before the leather. For me the felt is for paste/spray and only used occasionally but like everything else in this sport, YMMV.

I rub the strop vigorously just prior to stropping, I find it allows the razor to glide and it also smooths the grain out IMHO.

Rub away sir

Strops, especially Latigo, need a month or more of rubbing and use to break in the leather. English Bridle gets very smooth. Latigo gets grip pier in my experience

I, like JimmyRAD rub when I remember to. It does condition the leather some. I also use the poly webbing (linen-like synthetic) before the leather. It helps clean and align the edge, I think. Occasionally, I use felt with a spray.

I have the SRD modular paddle strop, which makes changing among strips easy (magnetic backing).