Thread: Difference in draw between SRD Latigo and Illinois 127

Hard to find anything better than a TM Plain Vanilla for $50.00. I have three other TM strops and the only difference I could find in my Plain Vanilla was it being about 2 inches shorter, no TM logo, and a different high quality hanger.

I agree with that assessment. It is an outstanding value. Beautiful leather, and the draw is very smooth, with an elegant feel. Just perfect.
My only regret is that I don't have the cash for a second.
However, I intend to save my pennies, so that if and when his heirloom strops become available, I can purchase one. If he considers these seconds, I simply MUST own one of those he deems worthy of stamping a logo on.
I thank everyone in this thread for their advice, and I'm utterly and completely satisfied with the outcome.

With regards to the draw on a strop, which is best for beginners? When I make the plunge for my SR and strop, I will be buying it from Lynn. But what is the best leather for me? Would I be best served by the latigo, "premium 1 or 2 leather," the buffalo leather, or the english bridle leather? I am leaning towards the English bridle leather, but if there is a better choice for a person who has never stropped before in his life, I'd appreciate hearing of it. Thanks!

Any of them will do. Since you will, almost inevitably, damage your first strop, I would go for the Natural. There is a review of all of SRD's strops available from here: Straight Razor Magazine: Review: Straight Razor Designs - The full strop line

Originally Posted by donaldjr1969

With regards to the draw on a strop, which is best for beginners? When I make the plunge for my SR and strop, I will be buying it from Lynn. But what is the best leather for me? Would I be best served by the latigo, "premium 1 or 2 leather," the buffalo leather, or the english bridle leather? I am leaning towards the English bridle leather, but if there is a better choice for a person who has never stropped before in his life, I'd appreciate hearing of it. Thanks!

Originally Posted by RobinK

Any of them will do. Since you will, almost inevitably, damage your first strop, I would go for the Natural. There is a review of all of SRD's strops available from here: Straight Razor Magazine: Review: Straight Razor Designs - The full strop line

As Robin said, any of them will do, and you'll probably nick your first strop. I've chewed the end/edge of more than one up a bit. Still usable, but I hide it if company comes over.

The main difference in the various leathers is what is known as draw. That is the resistance you feel as you run the razor back and forth over the strop. Latigo feels like it has a lot more resistance to me than horsehide, which has almost none at all.

SRD's Premium 1 was a strop I liked a lot for the feel. It had a light draw, better than none at all, but not as much as the latigo, which made me nervous that it might pull the razor out of my hand.

After I had been stropping a couple of years I tried my latigo strop again out of curiosity. It still had that draw but I didn't mind it at all. I suppose my stropping technique had come along to the point where I was better at it and the draw wasn't an issue.

I've never tried the English Bridal, but I know a lot of guys like it. Whatever you get will become familiar to you as you gain experience. SRD sells the individual components if you ever mess the leather up so badly that you want to replace it.

Jimmy, Robin, thank you for the tips and the link on the strop reviews. I also learned that I may be over thinking draw as a newbie rather that worrying about technique. I have a good idea about the leather I wish to get.

While this may not be a perfect way to get a good idea on how the draw will feel with the SR I choose, I will practicing with my empty shavette. I watched Lynn's 18 minute YouTube video earlier and learned a lot. I'm sure I'll probably be slow at first and while learning, again I will probably not be worrying about draw.

Originally Posted by donaldjr1969

Jimmy, Robin, thank you for the tips and the link on the strop reviews. I also learned that I may be over thinking draw as a newbie rather that worrying about technique. I have a good idea about the leather I wish to get.

While this may not be a perfect way to get a good idea on how the draw will feel with the SR I choose, I will practicing with my empty shavette. I watched Lynn's 18 minute YouTube video earlier and learned a lot. I'm sure I'll probably be slow at first and while learning, again I will probably not be worrying about draw.

That is a good idea. This PDF file, from the SRP library is an excerpt on honing and stropping from a 1961 barber manual. One of many useful tips they give is to practice the 'flip' with the razor without actually stropping. Once you've become adept at the flip, go to stropping. It is a good read ;

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...t_-_Honing.pdf

Originally Posted by RobinK

Any of them will do. Since you will, almost inevitably, damage your first strop, I would go for the Natural. There is a review of all of SRD's strops available from here: Straight Razor Magazine: Review: Straight Razor Designs - The full strop line

I dinged my first strop good just like everyone says and I was so careful.

The thing I like about the SRD's is I can change the parts instead of buying a whole new strop. As I refined my stropping skills I have refine my strop as part of the reward.

I think for most people who are not familiar with strops, its a gamble whether your going to enjoy the draw and stropping experience. Ideally if one could try the strop of interest it would answer much of the questions folks have about them. Stropping efficacy being equal what your left with is whether or not its enjoyable to use and of good quality. I think making a decision about buying a first strop, one should choose the middle path. Draw should neither be too light or heavy and most likely you will be closer to satisfaction rather than being turned off by the thing all together if its not your preference. I will go with what Robin recommends, The Natural by SRD. Not to heavy or light somewhere in the middle and of good quality and price. I personally like heavy draw of latigo but wouldn't recommend this to someone that isn't familiar with it. Good luck and happy stropping.

I apologize in advance for not reading the whole thread, but here are my thoughts:

1- you will get used to whatever you buy assuming it isn't a terrible quality item.

2- vendors such as SRD sell modular strops meaning that you can replace the stropping surface if it gets damaged or you don't like it.

3- the initial investment in a modular strop is the same as any decent strop, but the replacement components are priced similar to a budget strop.

4- the range of surfaces available for modular strops is usually greater than that for budget strops.

5- you can probably resell a better quality item (even damaged) if you decide it isn't for you. Though there is no guarantee of that or what you will get for it.

6- if you live somewhere where postage is free you will be able to replace your strop for little money but still have something good. You will also have the opportunity to have various strops for a reasonable cost provided you are willing to move the hardware around.

7- if or when you damage the strop you will still have a quality item for the cost of a budget item if you buy a replacement.


But in saying all of that I use a homemade strop that I made when I started using an open razor and it still works well though it does carry some battle scars, my other strop was one I got in exchange for a razor that the original owner didn't want but with some conditioning has turned into a nice strop.

I personally prefer a light to medium draw and for a beginner I think I would be better, the razor is less likely to get gripped by the strop and you are more likely to get a nicer flow in your stropping action. In fact I cleaned my second strop today which increased the draw a lot and the razor didn't be have as I would like at all.