Thread: I want a new strop - I think!

Originally Posted by STF

Hi guys,

I could use a bit of advice from you folks with a lot of strops.

I have the urge to get a new strop, I mean I really want one!

I have a 3" English Bridal leather strop and I have a 2" cheapo which is pasted.

Here are my questions:

Why do I want or even need another strop?

You always need mor “stuff”

What are the pros & cons of having another strop?

You only need one strop but it’s nice to use different draws

Why do some of you have so many strops?

As above

I want a heavy draw I think because it keeps me slow and deliberate, is Latigo heavy?

Depends. Latigo can have a heavy draw but Horween Latigo is a wonderful medium draw.

Occasionally i hear the swish sound that means my spine is not on the leather, would a heavy draw reduce the likelyhood of that?

No, only good practice.

If Latigo isn't heavy, what should I be considering that is?

Horween Chromexal has a lovely medium to heavy draw. At first it’s quite fast but after a few months of daily use will develop a medium to heavy draw.

My wrist aches after about 40 laps and I have to rest for a few seconds before I do the final 40, am I doing something that is making it harder on me?

You answered your question below, flip the razor between your fingers.

I have to admit that I don't really flip the razor between my fingers so much as use my wrist to flip it.

Practice flipping your razor between your fingers, your razor and wrist will thank you for it. If you look in the library there is a great video by AFDavies.

I welcome any advice before i go fo it.

Happy New Year all

As mentioned Kanayamas are perfect strops and the pinnacle in mosts collection.
Vintage Shell are fantastic. For new strops Scruppleworks and Westholme are wonderful. Alistair Summer’s of Westholme has leathers of all draws and can tailor to your needs.
I personally like all the different draws but remember draw doesn’t effect outcome.

Originally Posted by DZEC

Fendrihan has a Kanayama on their Boxing Day sale page. Still almost $300 CDN.

Thanks, even on sale $300 is too expensive for a me. I would burst into tears if I cut it, and I would.

I think fast draw for the beginner. Buttery heavy draws are unpredictable through an x-stroke with some razors.
Best to learn on a strop which offers less resistance. JMO
I like my lighter draws. Boarhide comes to mind. I can get some work done easy on those.
I also like my heavier draws. The Japanese and soft shell. I match blades to strops often.
All lighter grinds get faster draws and the heavies get the er Heavys!

Unless I am lazy (usually) where everything gets my Miller red bridle on a Lipshaw strop...

Some of my finest strops are vintage horse-shells I got on Ebay for around 50-60 bucks plus shipping. Save a search for vintage shell strops and wait for something nice to show up. I have a beautiful Japanese cordovan that was close to $300, but I didn't "need" it. One of those vintage shell strops will set you for life if you take care of it.

A luxurious strop is to be deserved on a practical level. You must experience what you are missing only by doing without.
Let's not cut that....Eh?
Expensive strops seem more common than common ones. At least in vintage. (junk excluded)
Common strops are not always preferable?
I never regretted a nice strop.

I'm not a fan of bridle strops. Way too much draw for me. If you want a change, I would suggest horsehide or vintage shell. Very light draw. 3" wide is too wide for me. 2-1/2" barber's end is just the ticket.

You can always use the suede.side.for heavier draw. The Heirloom Workshops Old No 2 Roughout has a spectacular suede side. Maybe, also consider a Herold Solingen 180J. sharpeningsupplies.com has them for $65.99 US. You can probably find them from Canadian suppliers for a similar price. It is rather thin but I have been pleased with mine. It is a good strop for starters because it's not too expensive so if you do knick it up it's not a huge investment down the drain.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

You can always use the suede.side.for heavier draw. The Heirloom Workshops Old No 2 Roughout has a spectacular suede side. Maybe, also consider a Herold Solingen 180J. sharpeningsupplies.com has them for $65.99 US. You can probably find them from Canadian suppliers for a similar price. It is rather thin but I have been pleased with mine. It is a good strop for starters because it's not too expensive so if you do knick it up it's not a huge investment down the drain.

Funny you say that Paul. I've been in touch with Tony at Heirloom strops and I reckon that the Premium Steerhide Old No.2 is the way to go for me, maybe it also has a suede back side, I didn't think to ask but it wouldn't be a deal breaker because my bridal doesn't either

The steerhide is thicker than the horsehide so if i did cut it I would have more leather for sanding and repairs, its a medium to light draw which has been suggested is a good draw and will work well with my razors that are all quarter hollow to extra hollow and I love the colour which as we all know is the most important aspect of any strop

I won't order a practice strop because I have been practising on my English Bridal Leather for a little over a year and can keep using it as a practice strop. My bridal does have a few small cuts and knicks from when I started out but it has been repaired and i haven't cut it for quite a while so I wanted to treat myself.

If I do make a boo boo on my new strop, Tony can sell me another piece of leather so plan A is not to cut it but thankfully there is a plan B. I'll take it slow and easy, it's the speed that gets me everytime.

It's going to cost me quite a lot because of the currency conversion and shipping but I've read that Heirloom strops are the bees knees so it will be worth it eh.

I haven't decided whether to go for 2 1/2" or 3" yet, I have a 3" bridal and a 2" cheapo pasted strop.

I rarely use the 2" pasted strop so it doesn't count but the 3" bridal is nice. Thing is, I have read that 3" can cup. I haven't experienced any cupping with mine yet but since I read about it I can't help but wonder if it will happen eventually. Will that render it useless to me?

I have also read that some people tend to cut 3" stops more than 2 1/2". I don't have any problems doing x-strokes on a strop, in fact i always do x-strokes on my 3".

The x-strokes on my 3" started so that it didn't matter if I was stropping a smiler but just became a habit so I automatically do x-strokes all the time now.

I don't think 2 1/2" would be a problem for me but I don't want to regret my decision either, like I said I have only used 3" but worry about the possibility of it cupping eventually and if I had less chance of cutting a narrower strop it's something else to consider. I've read that a lot of guys here prefer a narrower strop, if I'm doing x-strokes anyway, maybe its 2 1/2" time.

I've always been a fan of narrow strops.

Early on I was at a meet talking to a leather worker (hidestoart) that also made strops. I noticed that all of his strops were 3" and asked if he ever made 2½" or 2¼" strops. He said 'Yes, but they are the same price as the 3" strops.' I remember being kind of stunned and not knowing how to react, but after thinking about it for a while I decided that if I ever did buy one of his strops I would still prefer narrow.

Whenever I try to X stroke on a 3" strop I often kind of roll the strop, which makes sense because the wide strop makes it easier to get the pressure farther from the center.

Yep. What Vic said.
A 2.5" is more made for the X stroke. I have plenty of 3" and 2.5" and prefer the 2.5" size. It just feels more correct.

Tony will do ya right. He is a good guy and easy to work with.