Thread: Help me with strop choices please.

If it's heavy draw you are after, I can recommend napped leather (french style). I have a paddle strop with this kind of surface, and the draw is very heavy indeed.

IF you are going to use it as a workshop strop. get the heavy stuff. The zippy poly secondary.
I go on heavier stuff after honing before going to lighter. Makes a marked difference in first-shave quality.

What width would you get?

Westholme veggie tanned leather has a nice medium to medium light draw. The linen is awesome. It is the same linen as my scruple works linen strop.

sharptonn, I was thinking 3" but all I've used is 2.5 inch and its worked just fine for me so I might just go with the 2.5".

Rez, I'll look into it. Thanks for the recommendation. Guessing you mean vegetable tanned horse hide from Spain? I had gotten a price sheet from them a week ago. Wondering what they consider Barber ends? as you can get it that way or D rings or Handles. In 2.5 110.00 to 160.00. But in 3" its 130.00 to 165.00. Ouch!

Your Kanayama has a "barber end", aka no handle of any kind.

If you want just a little more draw than your Kanayama, I think the SRD English Bridle would fit the bill. When I got mine, she was pretty slick, but with use, the draw has increased slightly... or perhaps it's me?!?! I do have a vintage shell strop that is like greased glass.... slick as all get out. I have a hard time controlling the razor on it.

I used to use Latigo and an Illinois 827 russian (rough side out leather), the latter worked a treat for a freshly honed razor. That Illinois strop took some work to get all the nap off it... I used a sharp blade, sharp edged stick... and finally my DMT 325 which did the trick. If I would have had a coarser diamond hone, I would have used that instead. Once all the semi attached nap is removed, you are left with a tough suede surface that is very nice to strop on. The zippy plastic coated fabric strop also responds very nicely to being thoroughly scrubbed with the DMT 325 which wears off some of the plastic coating and makes it much nicer to strop on. The 827 does have a fair amount of draw, but it's still not as heavy as my latigo strops.

The SRD strops are held together with Chicago screws and regular saddle hardware from what I can see. It should not be difficult to make things up yourself and just buy the strop surfaces from SRD, but I'd ask if I could buy the bits from them anyway.

My SRD strop is 3" and all my other strops are 2.5". Either work fine for me, though I might lean towards the 2.5", just because I'm so used to using that size. Having said that, these days I reach for my 3" SRD English Bridle.... the rest of my strops tend to get ignored.

Regards

Christian

Well, Thanks for your reply Christian. That kind of info is what I'm looking for. Not the the others info wasn't of use. I too am leaning towards the 2.5" as thats what I've used since I started. Still got to mow over a few more things but my choices are getting better now. Not sure that I need a ROO strop. They are very fast but I got the Kanayama for fast if I want.
Lots to think about. I'm still listening if other want to give there report on there SRD strop.
I just realized they only have 2" or 3". No 2.5". Bummer.

I watch his eBay page and occasionally something pops up. I have a veg tanned cow hide. It was less than anything you listed and it has Barber ends. It is very nicely made. I also have a strop by DryGulch that was very affordable.

I have strops of varying draw from Kanayama to an SRD Latigo. If you want heavy, Latigo is nice and inexpensive plus as mentioned you can buy a roo or English bridle piece an exchange as wanted. After honing, I like Neil Miller's linen or the canvas piece from my Kanayama.
For a nice medium draw leather with a linen second I really like Scrupleworks horse.

The Roo and 'Yama are a different kind of 'fast'. The Roo has a lighter, dryer feeling to it if you will.. almost scratchy. I honestly think a well used Kanayama has a medium draw.. at least compared to the Roo or a TM strop.

I think of you grabbed the IV w/poly backing and the Roo w/felt you would have some fairly well varied stropping options.

All IMHO

I bought the SRD 3" Red Latigo with the premium SRD fabric, I'm very pleased with it, had an Illinois strop, no comparison!, I also like the fact that you can order replacement leather and fabric! this strop should last a lifetime! Its worth the investment, I would say the draw on the red latigo is medium-heavy, I think is just right!