Thread: Lynn Abrams paddle strop and tapped spine

A few months ago I bought one of Lynn Abrams paddle strop with the regular pads (premium and roughed leather and two hard wool felt pads).

I use it with the razor I got at the same time, and it looks like they honed it without tape (there are minor scratch marks on the spine) so of course it all fits together.

Sometime ago I hijacked a thread here asking if I could use a paddle strop with a razor that was honed with tape, but without tape. Most people seemed to agree that no, it wouldn't work.

But I also noticed that Lynn's strop has some cavities in the middle, it had a little give to it. So I tried refreshing a razor, previously honed with tape, with felt spayed with diamonds. And it worked.

Of course the felt has a lot more give to it than the leather. But still I'm curious. Would specifically Lynn's paddle work without tape for razors that were honed with it? Would those cavities allow it?

Implicitly

Without a doubt

You do not need to tape a spine on any kind of strop, except maybe a Balsa Test strop, regardless of how the razor was honed..
I say maybe because I don't use them so I haven't ever tested one


Tape / No Tape it just doesn't matter on a strop

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Implicitly

Without a doubt

You do not need to tape a spine on any kind of strop, except maybe a Balsa Test strop, regardless of how the razor was honed..
I say maybe because I don't use them so I haven't ever tested one


Tape / No Tape it just doesn't matter on a strop

I have refreshed a razor, that was previously honed with tape, on a pasted balsa paddle (without tape) and it worked just fine. I haven't done it many times as I don't use tape often but when I have I haven't had any issues with it. That's IME.

Just to clarify, here's the answer on the other thread that motivated me to ask specifically about this paddle strop (since it's got those cavities):

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?p=1687182

I would say no to tape, for the simple reason that tiny particles could get into the strop.

Originally Posted by Aerdvaark

I would say no to tape, for the simple reason that tiny particles could get into the strop.

I agree, plus just like gssixgun already pointed out, you just don't need it.

I've had one f those strops since I Started, never taped it, there is enough deflection of the leather or any other pad you use to strop the edge. Tc

I use a paddle strop for refreshing with paste all the time. I opted for it because it is flatter than a hanging strop.

I bought some of my razors shave ready and they were honed using tape. They still work fine on the paddle strop. There is some give in the strop due to the grooves, but the leather itself has much more give that a stone ever could have and so I think you will be fine with this approach.

OTOH, I always tape (one layer normally) when I hone, and usually pull the tape to test for HHT after stropping. This can get to be a PITA if you have to keep going back to the hones, and reapplying tape every time you do. So I have left the tape on to strop just to avoid re-taping and the sky didn't fall. YMMV ..........

So, hone the razor and look at the edge.

Strop it and look at it again, bet you dollars to doughnuts, it’s straighter.

No tape needed… Of course it deflects more than enough to reach the edge.