Thread: Handles or D-Rings?

So, this is a simple one... Which do you prefer? (I know a lot of people prefer the plain, cut off barber's end, but if we could keep it to the two, handles and D-rings)

I started on a TM 3" Latigo with Handles, then got a 3" TM Horsehide with D-rings (4 D-rings, which I then put 2 of on the Latigo) at this point I prefered the D-Ring grip... However, a recent trip to Mr. Abram's house, and a chance to play around with -and learn from- his strops/stropping showed me something that I didn't quite get before. When stropping, don't let the strop hang, however, you don't need to pull it tight as a board. You can give it some slack, rather than cramping the hell outta your arm. Then I got to play with his Bridle strop... Needless to say, I bought one for myself the same night after testing his.

Well, my Bridle has handles, and I still have 2 TM handles, so that brings me to 4 handles, and 4 D-rings for 6 handle-less strops.

I liked D-rings when I wanted everything tight as a nun's.... Nevermind. now that I know a little less tension isn't a bad thing, I find handles to be comfier again... The way I currently have it configured is with my two pasting cloths (TM nylon and TM felt) using the D-Rings, and my 4 every-day strops (TM latigo, TM Horsehide, SRD Bridle, and SRD webbed fabric) getting the handles, because obviously I use them more... I may pick up handles for the Paster's, or I may just quit being so anal/OCD about it...

After all this rambling... What do you guys prefer? Do you like different handles on different lengths? Maybe you use the different handles like bookmarks? or are you just a One handle guy? (or gal)

Cheers,
Jeremy

Previously, handles. Right now, that other one, that's been excluded!
Goodness me man! Tell me you've not acquired that lot since you became a member here!

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Previously, handles. Right now, that other one, that's been excluded!
Goodness me man! Tell me you've not acquired that lot since you became a member here!

I've acquired so many new disorders it's hilarious

I still have my Dovo Best Quality as my primary razor (I'm looking into getting more though >.< ) and I have a Gold Dollar that Lynn used to show me how to hone, then gave to me... I gotta say, 6/8 > 5/8 any day in my book. However, strops, I can't stop getting them... Somethign about stropping is just... Zenlike. It's meditative and relaxing. I have one 20$ amazon brush, 2 soap pucks (SRD and TOBS) And some TOBS cream. An antique shaving mug (but a scuttle and moss scuttle are on the list) and 3 strops. Crox crayon and a Partridge in a Pear Tree...

I. Can't. Stop!

But, God do I love the shaves! Worth it.

I am now (OCD beyond belief) keeping the D-rings on my TM's, because, due to their length, I like to put them running away from me, and strop forwards and back... and keeping handles on the SRD Bridle, which is 2-4 inches longer, since I pull it across myself, and strop left to right... It works for now, but will probably be changed in 20-30 minutes >.>

This is like mental patients comparing their phobias.

I was just thinking, how the hell does this guy get by with so few razors?! I have over 30 now, and I can't stop looking for more (although my budget has gotten smaller and smaller with each one!). The first shave you get from a new razor is just so cool, even if it's not going to become one of your favorites, but you just know it was a good idea to buy it, which makes you want to get just one more, and so on.

Now you're telling me about this strop addition, and I have no frame of reference for that at all. My strop is a TM latigo too --very, very nice strop to use, but it honestly never occurred to me that people would need or even want more than one!

So enlighten your fellow inmates here -- does the horsehide work better than the latigo? What is this "bridle" strop that you saw at Lynn's? Thanks!

Originally Posted by JeffE

This is like mental patients comparing their phobias.

I was just thinking, how the hell does this guy get by with so few razors?! I have over 30 now, and I can't stop looking for more (although my budget has gotten smaller and smaller with each one!). The first shave you get from a new razor is just so cool, even if it's not going to become one of your favorites, but you just know it was a good idea to buy it, which makes you want to get just one more, and so on.

Now you're telling me about this strop addition, and I have no frame of reference for that at all. My strop is a TM latigo too --very, very nice strop to use, but it honestly never occurred to me that people would need or even want more than one!

So enlighten your fellow inmates here -- does the horsehide work better than the latigo? What is this "bridle" strop that you saw at Lynn's? Thanks!

I do want more Razors, but as of now I have 2 (both fresh off of Lynn's stones) which is enough for now... I don't do things in groups... Like, new razor, new strop, new soap, new stone, new razor, new strop new soap new stone... I do things by sections. I get the bare minimum to enjoy it, then I focus on strop collection, once I have all the strops I want (or at least as many as I want now [all I'm missing is the SRD Premium II, then I'm done for now]) I start focusing on razors... I have my eye on 4 or 5 DOVOs. Once I get all those, I'll focus on honing whatnots. Naniwa 12k, diamond sprays, differet forms of Crox, a TM Wool Felt component for the Diamond spray... After that, I'm looking for new brushes, soaps and creams. Getting a super badger, and silvertip, then, with my best, super and silver, figuring which one I like most and getting one or two new knot sizes of those. trying new creams (castle forbes, T&H, SRD Soaps, 0livia's creams) Then picking up accessories. Scuttle, Moss scuttle, etc.

Then it starts all over again, potentially with more strops! You get the idea.

Now, as to the Enlightenment... Different strops don't work "better" per se, they work differently (for the most part... Well, strops can work better if you want the same effect, but better, IE: Going from an illinois to a TM.. I'll explain later) It isn't that the strop is better, but different. The latigo has a huge amount of draw, the Horsehide is less draw and slick. The latigo is a great strop, but the Horsehide adds an amazing finishing strop. It puts that final edge on it... You can shave off of a Naniwa 12k and crox, but when you go 12k-16k, then crox, you get a better edge. Same with Latigo to horsehide... However the Bridle is just a great all around. It is between the two, but more supple, silkier... Finer. When I am in a hurry, or need to compare to another strop, the Bridle is my goto. I gotta run, but basically, it's the all around amazing strop, while Latigo to Horsehide has SLIGHTLY better results, the Bridle gets 90% of the Latigo Horsehide combo, with just one strop... And then theres different lengths, different handles, it's like razors.. one may not be better, but it's day to day prefference... Stuff like that... Any other questions? I gotta run but I'll be back later tonight.. If I left anything out, ask, I'll answer tonight.

Good Luck and Happy Shaving.
Cheers,
Jeremy

I'm definitely a D-ring guy.

It's not a tightness thing, because my close second choice is plain barber style. It's a comfort thing. Gripping the end of the strop with my hand perpendicular to it's length rather than parallel to it's length just seems very natural to me, and fits my stropping technique.

I've yanked the handles off all my strops that came with them originally, and don't buy vintage strops that have an integral handle.

[QUOTE=JeffE;512068]
Now you're telling me about this strop addition, and I have no frame of reference for that at all. My strop is a TM latigo too --very, very nice strop to use, but it honestly never occurred to me that people would need or even want more than one!
QUOTE]

Once the Acquisition Disorder reaches the chronic stage, a fellow cannot ever accumulate enough razors, strops, soaps, etc. to be satisfied.

Regarding strops, I started out preferring handles, especially like those on the SRD strops (of which I have five), but I've gotten now to where I prefer the D rings -- I find them easier to hold.

[QUOTE=sffone;512299]

Originally Posted by JeffE

Now you're telling me about this strop addition, and I have no frame of reference for that at all. My strop is a TM latigo too --very, very nice strop to use, but it honestly never occurred to me that people would need or even want more than one!
QUOTE]

Once the Acquisition Disorder reaches the chronic stage, a fellow cannot ever accumulate enough razors, strops, soaps, etc. to be satisfied.

Regarding strops, I started out preferring handles, especially like those on the SRD strops (of which I have five), but I've gotten now to where I prefer the D rings -- I find them easier to hold.

D'you know of anywhere I can pick up spare Handles or D-rings? I'll probably petition Mr. Miller to sell me some along with my new Wool Felt strop for Diamond Spray... D-Rings shouldn't be too hard, but I need handles...

I prefer plain, then D-ring. Have never tried the handles because I don't like the look of them - too bulky/restrictive or something.

Cheers,

[QUOTE=ShavedZombie;512302]

Originally Posted by sffone

D'you know of anywhere I can pick up spare Handles or D-rings? I'll probably petition Mr. Miller to sell me some along with my new Wool Felt strop for Diamond Spray... D-Rings shouldn't be too hard, but I need handles...

D-rings are far tougher to find than I ever thought, unless you buy them in bulk online. I got tired of asking for them at local saddle shops and getting blank stares. So I got my D-rings directly from Tony to replace the handles on my TM strop that I originally bought with handles. I'm guessing Tony or SRD would also sell just the handles themselves, if you want new. Ask them.

If used is OK, I have several handles just going to waste. I have a pair of TM handles in red Latigo with the narrow metal rings still attached, and a pair of SRD handles in red Latigo, without the narrow metal rings, just the leather. Oddly, I also have a mismatched pair of SRD handles in black Latigo, one with just the leather, and the other with the leather, the ring and the leather strop base for a 3" strop. All are in fine shape, with all screws intact.

If you want any of them free (for your use only), you can have your pick. PM me your mailing address, tell me which you need, and I'll send them out after Christmas.