Thread: Two sides to the Strop....

Ok so obviously I'm new and could use some insight here. My Strop has two sides, both of which are leather. So I figured, "Cool, I got a spare should I cut the hell out of the primary." Then after some reading from the guru's on here I thought, "I wonder if I'm using the rougher strop and should I be hitting both sides?"

Long story short, I used the tan side after hitting the black leather side....wow! Am I just retarded or what? Why couldn't I tell the difference visually when I hung the strop. A Much better shave presented itself. Or am I just mentally forcing myself to believe that I was missing something? Again a black leather and tan leather side on this beginner strop. Are they different grits?

Any help is appreciated. Should you need to be sarcastic, feel free!

Charlie

I am FAR from an expert...but here goes. The smooth side is usually used for your daily stropping, and the rough side can be treated and used to touch up a razor that is starting to dull a tad. Neither leather side by itself has any abrasive qualities, that is why you would need to treat it with some sort of abrasive compound to use it for touch-ups. Some strops also come with felt, linen, or similar material you can use in addition to the leather. I personally use the non leather side to ensure the edge is dry after shaving by giving it a few back and forths.

Use the rough one as if it were your linen, smooth one for finish. Also worth trying different combinations: always use rough before smooth, rough only, smooth only, rough occasionally, etc.. Let your face decide.

I gave up on linen and webbing because I could not tell the difference. I wipe my blades after use with a piece of tp, then straight to latigo and back on the shelf.

Thanks for the insight. I shave wipe the blade dry then hit the strop 15-20 times. I always lather and strop another 30-40 times while the lather works its magic. Seems like the consensus is that I need to be using both sides for sure. Thanks as always.

Charlie

So your strop is made of two bits of leather? One is black, one is tan? Where'd you get it from? Can you show us a picture?

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

So your strop is made of two bits of leather? One is black, one is tan? Where'd you get it from? Can you show us a picture?

James.

Well if I can figure out how to upload them I will. I got it from heritage shaving in there $205 starter set. Probably not the best, but it'll do for now I guess. If I can upload it I will.

Charlie

Let's see if this works....

I would think beginning on the black side for 20-40 and going at the front side 60-80 should be best. This is based upon what I see in the photos.
Only having the strop in-hand could it really be judged. JMO

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I would think beginning on the black side for 20-40 and going at the front side 60-80 should be best. This is based upon what I see in the photos.
Only having the strop in-hand could it really be judged. JMO

Did you mean "back" side (brown) first? The black side seems to be the smoother side.

I guess I am the lone dissenter but you use only the one side.....the smooth side. You can buy more strops for adding an micron abrasive for touching up a razor that is pulling but unless your strop has a dedicated linen or nylon web backing then it is not intended for dual use.

I have a linen strop; a leather/nylon web strop; a leather strop dedicated to a micron abrasive for fairly dull edges; and a leather strop dedicated to a even smaller micron paste for touching up a razors edge.

Okie Dokie........that is how I was trained on this aspect of razors. Now when you get to honing get ready to really have your mind in overload with the progressions!