Thread: Strop length

Hi, just a quick question for my first post here.

How are strops usually measured? Is it the length of the item, grip to hook; or is it the length of the stropping face, ie. the usable area?

I ask because I'm just getting started with straight razor shaving and ordered and received a strop on ebay (a cheapie, because well, I'm just testing the waters). The length was stated as 20 inches but when it arrived I realised that meant the length of the whole thing, tip to tip and it feels a little short.

I don't think that there is any standard length. Many of the reputable vendors will tell you what the usable area is.

Thanks rezdog.

From what I've seen so far, my impression to is that there seem to be many different strop lengths. And as you said, my impression was the length most vendors mention is the usable area rather than the tip to tip length (as was the case with my purchase that left me feeling a little short changed). Just wanted to check before I review that ebay purchase.

Some people like a short strop, obie only uses 6-7 inches of surface.
Though in answer to your question, i don't know that there is a standard, i would expect however to receive a strop that had 20" of usable area. In saying that I only have 2 and have bought neither.

I don't have a thought (positive or negative) as long as the strop is comfortable to use!

If someone says they have a strop with 16 inches usable, but it looks like it's got another 8 inches of leather under the top hardware and below the usable area, then I pretty much figure it will work about like my favorite strop length, which is 24". If you have a fixed point you use for your strop, you'll get used to using a certain part of the strop (for me it's a little over a foot in the middle). As long as a strop is similar in length overall and has the area that I use free, I wouldn't care.

As your stropping learning curve progresses, you'll discover your natural stroke and its length. Stroke length differs quite a bit from person to person. When I first began my stroke was about 16" but it has since shortened to 13"-14". I like a working length of 18"-20". If you find you're cutting/nicking your strop, shorten your stroke and slow down. Accuracy and effectiveness are your goals when learning to strop.

I make my strops with 18 inches of strop, with rings it would be about 21-22 inches total length.

I find I only use about 12 inches of the middle. I have also made 12 inch paddles that work well using about 8 inches of the middle.

I also have purchased several strops much longer, and I still only use about 12 inches, I suspect that is probably normal.

Total length and used length is personal preference.

I don't think strops are sold by length. In the day they were pretty much standard sized (for the hanging ones anyway). The ads I've seen only mention length if it is extra long or short and even then they usually didn't give measurements.

Personally, whatever the length I try and use as much as I can steering away from the embossed ends.

Most that I have taken note off tend to tell the full length and useable surface as well. If it's short it is a good excuse to learn the x stroke well at the beginning.

I never had a lesson on stropping. I watched the vids and listened to the sound. My strop is about 24" and I use all of it. Pulling up just short of the Chicago screws end to end. But I am tall and have long arms so for me it just flows.