Thread: Linen, Canvas, Webbing and other Fabrics. Are they necessary?

I strop on nylon webbing before hitting the leather and have been very pleased with the results. I use this because Lynn Abrams and team discovered that it works really well. I was willing to pay more for the traditional materials, though Lynn said they found the results with the nylon webbing to be awesome and I ave to agree.

The second pic comes from Lynn's website. It is somewhat small, so the first pic, while not a perfect match, shows what it looks like up close.

Look at your razor with magnification, the day after you have shaved with it. No matter how well you have rinsed and wiped the blade, you will find bits of soap, skin, blood and rust on the bevel and rust. The skin holds moisture and will rust/eat the edge.

If you do not strop on linen and remove all the smutz, it ends up on you finishing leather. Rust, active red/orange rust, Ferric Oxide, (Fe2 O3) is harder than steel and will scratch a bevel and can lead to a chip.

Most folks do not clean their leather strop regularly and just wipe with the hand, further imbedding the grit into the leather. In addition, as said bit of steel are added to the above mix as parts of the fin are broken off.

There is no question that a good linen strop can straighten, polish and sharpen a bevel and edge. Some flax strops are very aggressive when looked at with magnification. A good Linen firehose strop is very aggressive as are many vintage true linen strops.

I strop on pasted Chrome Oxide, canvas between stones when honing after 1k and before the final finish stone. I then strop on plain leather after the finish stone.

Stropping on linen after 1k will straighten and make a cleaner edge. Before stropping I always first strop on washed, vintage true linen before stropping on leather or a pasted strop.

At the very least, linen will keep your leather cleaner, at best it will straighten and polish the edge. Leather is the last thing to polish and straighten the edge, before it touches your face, it should be in the most pristine condition.

I've been reading this thread with interest. So tonight when I stopped at the truck stop for my evening shower and shave, I gave my Dorko Backal 20 laps on the nylon web before 50 on leather. Now this razor was purchased new from John Crowley at The Shaving Shop December 2015, and he put a fine edge on it. All I've ever done was to strop it on leather these 18 months and it's given fine shaves. Who knows what variables were aligned tonight, but I did put on 20 web laps, which was different. It's as if there was at least a 50% improvement in the shave. I could be exagerating, but certainly a great shave tonight.

OK, I'm convinced that I have to try a fabric strop.

Where do I find a 2.5" linen only strop?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Leather is the last thing to polish and straighten the edge, before it touches your face, it should be in the most pristine condition.

I wiped my strop with warm water on kitchen paper but dirt is still there. Any suggestions on how to clean and care for my strop?

All I have ever used to clean leather is saddle soap bought from a horse tack shop. There are many makers as a quick google will show.

Bob

I've been reading some threads on this section and it seems that pure glycerin may be a better medium for cleaning a leather strop. I'll try some on a leather belt and if I'm happy with the results I'll use it on my strop.

Still looking to buy a linen strop, any recommendations?

Brilliant and cogent stroke of awareness. So much to learn and be aware of. I think of those tiny bits of metal becoming embedded into the leather.

When will you let us know your results???

Yep! That makes perfect sense.

Excellent point. One I was certainly not aware of and will start using immediately. As I have said. Been using an SR for 40+ years and never ever was aware of this. Thank you for this most instructional post.