Thread: 2 Leather Strops

I have seen vintage 2 leather strops. I understand that some members strop 2 different kinds of leather in their stropping routine . My question is , is their a theory or confirmation that this practice has some merit?

I can see a SRD strop with Latigo and Premium 2 components and alternating a heavy draw leather with a lighter draw leather , would the refining of the edge improve over simply using one leather?

I don't think two different leathers would change the performance of the razor unless one has a compound on it to touch up the edge.

Generally all strop do the same thing. Draw is just a personal preference thing. I prefer a very light draw for heavy wedges and extra hollows I can strop on anything. I have several strop that are all just little different, and I vary which on I use based on my mood and razor. One of my stops have a suede for the second component, which replaces the linen.

Generally in the vintage dual leather strops one says sharpen and the other finish. Quite often the sharpen may have a rougher texture or some treatment to it and is meant to replace the linen component or bring back a lagging edge. Using 2 smooth finishing leathers would be more in the realm of progressive stropping moving from rougher finishes and heavier draw to smoother and lighter draw.

Ed

Do you think " progressive stropping" from a rougher finish to a smoother finish works? Also would going from a latigo or buffalo leather to a smoother leather constitute progressive stropping?

As you are decreasing draw it would qualify as progressive stropping. At 1 stage I went from Latigo to bridle to shell. Were my edges better off the shell than just Latigo I think so but that could be further burnishing or the shell just left a better edge. Haven't done it in a long time now I just use the linen I believe works the best and either one of my vintage shell strops or my kanayama 80000 which I would say is my best so far. Really want one of Neil Millers but aud to pounds conversion sucks putting it out of my price range atm. In the end it is personal preference and some find heavy draw Latigo best and others smooth as glass shell and still others anything in between. Best bet is find a local afflicted with strop addiction and meet up and try a few or buy one on each end of the spectrum and see what you might like best. There is no absolutes just what is best for you.

I've never been a believer in progressive stropping as far as leather is concerned. I think linen does make a difference and a pasted strop certainly works. I have a kanayama which has a secondary leather strop with a suede finish and though it's nice to use I don't think it makes any difference.

I have 4 types of leather and the one I use on any given day is simply a mood thing. I have not noticed a difference in my edges, but also have not really studied it! I like having different draws available, probably just as an excuse to buy the different materials...

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

...I have a kanayama which has a secondary leather strop with a suede finish and though it's nice to use I don't think it makes any difference.

Heresy.