Thread: Progression Stropping

i sure have used two and even 3 strops progression.. lately it's more like paper strosp and only two leather variances

lately here is my progression after my SG20k No linen after the hones):
paper strop with CrOx: 40 laps
paper strop with FeOx: 40 laps
Latigo Strop or russian stropp: 40 laps (lately i have been feeling just right with the SRD latigo)
Kangaroo 3" or Kanayama (or any similar shell japanese strop with same feeling)..
decision between kangaroo or kanayama depends on the mood, but i do at least 40 laps.

if it is prep for shave on a non recently honed, i only go with linen or cotton (20 laps) and kanayama or kangaroo 60 laps (30x Latigo or russian between those too every other shave)

It was my understanding that the different strop leathers were more a personal preference thing vs a different affect on the blade steel. Is this correct? Personal preference being the way one "feels" compared to the other. I understand that you change this conversation with you begin adding compounds and sprays to whatever the stropping medium is.

My questions are:

1. Does the second surface, fire hose, linen, cotton, etc. in their virgin states have different affects on the blade steel?
2. Do the different types of leather have an affect on the blade steel?
3. Does the supplier/maker of the same type leather have a different affect on the blade steel?

I currently only have one hanging strop which is the black latigo from SRD. This strop seems to work fine but I have nothing to compare to.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

I'm not a scientist, nor do I play one on TV

But did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

Originally Posted by Robini

My questions are:

1. Does the second surface, fire hose, linen, cotton, etc. in their virgin states have different affects on the blade steel?

In their virgin state, they are not as effective as when they're broken in

2. Do the different types of leather have an affect on the blade steel?

In my opinion, yes to a minor extent. But the quality of the leather does have an effect for sure. Lower quality leathers will give lesser results

3. Does the supplier/maker of the same type leather have a different affect on the blade steel?

Not sure what you're asking here

I hope my answers help you out a bit

I thought this would be a nice question and I ended up getting the type of answers I'd figured I'd get.
I'm not into the progressive stropping. I've done it a couple times but its not something I normally do. My understanding is... You use the type of leather that you enjoy using the most and that will give you the same end results as most any other strop. Not talking Pastes of course. That will make a difference as its more in the honing stage in my opinion.
I had bought all these different strops to find a couple that I enjoy using the most and I've come to the conclusion that the SRD Buffalo is my favorite. I also like the Kanayama 70,000 but I find it has twice as much draw as the Buffalo. The Roo is so slick that its hard to imagine its doing anything at all. But as always, these are my opinions.

Some folks like the progressive stropping. And its is there choice. If it works for them then so be it. I just find if I can keep my stropping down to around 100 laps then I've done good. Some days my mind gets to thinking other things while stropping and I know I'll end up around 300 laps if not careful. Just stropping away. Thinking I might just need to put a timer on the wall above my strops so it will tell me when I'm done. No more counting then.

Now if you have an opinion on this subject please post it. But I got a feeling that most folks are going to say its just wasting time and does nothing for the end product. Myself, I may do it right after a honing when the mood hits me. But my standard is 30 to 50 on linen and 80-100 on leather.

For clarification, my question #3 above, I was asking if there would be any difference in a latigo strop from SRD compared to a latigo strop from XYZ, or any other leather type as far as the affect on the steel.

Also, my question #1, "virgin" was referring to not pasted or sprayed. I understand that all strop surfaces work better when properly broken in.

hehehe i have an opinnion on what you just posted... you are my hero... you can let your mind fly away when you are stropping... the couple of times i've done that, sooner or later i will cut the strop.. so I make myself COUNT to be concentrated on the stropping...

as for the single media.... in my mind it seems just like honing... you can use a couticule or a progression... if you have a leather like buffalo, i don't see why you could not achieve same results than with a progression... in this, as in naturals vs synthetics discussion, will always be what you feel gives you better result... to be hones.. i even think there is a High psychological component on feeling the results... i mean, think about it.. after some level of keenness on an edge, i think t's quite difficult feeling the difference, unless you are shaving your tongue (supposed to be super sensitive according to dentists...)

as Glenn said a few mins ago,, two topics running at the same time, one for strop progression and one for hand stropping... and everyone is trying new stuff and everyone is looking for the holy grail...

what we know for sure:
1. stropping is needed
2. leather is a good media
3. people have different favorite kinds of leather and finishing they like (this would suggest that there not really abetter leather for stropping)... So... everything after this point is "personal opinion"... and a bit of SAD

Originally Posted by gabrielcr78

what we know for sure:
1. stropping is needed
2. leather is a good media
3. people have different favorite kinds of leather and finishing they like (this would suggest that there not really abetter leather for stropping)... So... everything after this point is "personal opinion"... and a bit of SAD

I agree 100%. Now if I can just find that one strop that is just perfect. Guess I'll have to buy another 5 or 6 for testing. LOL My Latigo just doesn't make me happy at all. Thinking I'll have to pay the fee so I can sell a few things in the future. Starting with the SRD Latigo.

I won't say it's a waste of time I say do what you think works for you, if you feel the edge is better by progressively stropping on say 3-5 different types of leather and you do hundreds of laps each time then go for it, for me I as stated have tried it using three different strops and did 100 laps on each strop using the same razor, I used a Scrupleworks oil tanned, TM Spanish bridle and a Kanayama 70, I did my progressive stropping routine on a razor that had just been honed and was a solid HHT4+ as I used .5 CrOx and .25 diamond paste just to get the keenest edge possible after coming off my JNAT and the shaves were super good all 5 shaves then I used just linen and leather and did 20/40 and the shaves were as good for the next 5 shaves, maybe some can tell the difference but I personally could not and I don't base my shaves on an HHT so i say do what works, heck I hone razors that shave really well just to hone so thats the same as progressive stroppingin my opinion but I love to hone but now after several years I am finally figuring out that a blade can only be so sharp.

Spare the hones, spoil the strops.