Thread: A strop to grow into? - Tony Miller +?

I ordered a dovo ebony carbon steel during the free life honing event @ SRD and have that sitting until my Rup golden dollar and Filly strop arrive hopefully tomorrow.

I'm looking at Tony Miller strops and not sure which I should go with. I want to buy one that will be a daily setup and I can grow into over time once I get stopping down. I don't mind spending on quality.

So, being this and TM's offerings what would make the most sense. A TM with latigo + linen or latigo + horsebutt or horsebutt + linen. Any opinions on D rings or handles as well would be welcomed as well.

I don't plan to paste this as I'd just order a plain cotton/wool for this or just use the Filly.

Any thoughts for a new guy on the stop hunt?

Thanks in advance

Of all the strops I've used, I'd say if you want one strop to do it all, go with the SRD Premium IV, Bridle strop. It's a do it all

However, if you want an amazing strop that will surely give you an Acquisition Disorder, go with TM Latigo and Linen (the linen really is top notch and great for daily use) and then get a Horsehide and Nylon after that.

The bridle does a GREAT job on it's own, but when you use a Linen -> Latigo -> Horsehide cycle, you get such amazing results....

So, there's a jack of all trades, or a good alone, amazing as a pair.

Which suits you more?

Also, I find that handles and D-rings work equally well for me, but as of now, I am enjoying handles more... they both get me the same results, but the handles are -for now- more comfortable.

Cheers,
Jeremy

+1 on the bridle strop. I like my SRD English Bridle and am glad I spent the gold. On the same note, I found a leathersmith in Maine who has provided me with two 3" x 64" American Bridle strips.

I don't want to ruffle anyone's feathers but laying these 64" American Bridle strips alongside the SRD, it is difficult to see the difference in quality. However there is a very slight difference in the feel of the topside surface but it is only a slight difference.

Again, these are American Bridle strips. They are not English like the SRD strops. Taking into consideration the 64"length of each strip, I will be able to make FOUR strops plus maybe two nice flatbed strops to be glued to tile or balsa.

I have been using the SRD ENGLISH but have yet to try the American bridle leather. Time will tell if the American stands up to daily use like the SRD English does.

PM me if you want the Maine URL............

Thanks for all the info.. Just recieved my Filly today and may try a shave tomorrow or sunday. With all I've heard and thought about I'm leaning toward a TM w/ latigo + linen in 3". It sounds like a great setup that'll be all I would need for a long time.

That way I still have my Filly to mix in and can use for travel... we'll see... we'll see...

Like I said, the TM Latigo is a truly top class strop. Absolutely beautiful, but it can only take you so far, and linen is a great choice for cleaning/refining an edge, but can also be improved.

Next thing you'll want to get is a TM Horsehide and Nylon. Then you should do (atleast, I do this) 50 laps on linen, 50 laps on nylon, 50 laps on the latigo, and 50 laps on the horsehide. That's how I do it with my TM's, the results are great.

Also, if you don't want to spend time/money on a second strop, the Bridle really is an AMAZING do it all strop. The SRD webbed fabric works great. and the Bridle leather is somewhere between mildly broken in latigo, and perfectly broken in horsehide, so it does the majority of the work of both, in one.. but you just can't beat the latigo and horsehide...


Boy, I just realized that I talk in circles and repeat myself a lot >.<

It's ok to talk in circles..beats nothing at all.

Jeremy, thanks for all the info. It really gives me something to think about. So your saying the SRD bridle would be a end all piece? It's really hard trying to figure what would be the most future proof. Guess I'll have to decide and pull the trigger at some point 1 way or the other.

Originally Posted by bandit82ta

It's ok to talk in circles..beats nothing at all.

Jeremy, thanks for all the info. It really gives me something to think about. So your saying the SRD bridle would be a end all piece? It's really hard trying to figure what would be the most future proof. Guess I'll have to decide and pull the trigger at some point 1 way or the other.

My pleasure! I fancy myself a budding strop enthusiast.. As of now, I have more strops than razors, creams, soaps, and brushes... It's a slippery slope.

Anywho. I'm not saying that the Bridle would be the end-all-be-all best strop ever. I'm saying if you want one strop that can do almost any job, that's the one. The Webbing, while not being the best at anything, does a great job at almost everything (it's a great daily pre-strop, and it works wonderfully with a Crox Crayon (apply it to the back of the nylon strop, that way you can use one side for stropping, and the other for paste) and the leather is, as of now, my favorite leather on anything. Plus it is 3 inches longer than most strops, giving you more 'forgiving' surface, in case you nick at the extreme edges.

More info (my opinion and results, mostly) on the leather. Well, The way I classify it is, given my current stropping abilities, I'd say that I can get a razor 95% of the way to a perfect edge with stropping (that is to say, my technique is almost perfect, but can still improve, and my razors may need rehoning) well, If I can get a razor to 95-97% perfection with TM Latigo and linen + Horsehide and Nylon, used together, that's great. however, using JUST the Bridle, I'd say I can get 90%, maybe 93% perfection with the bridle and nylon alone. Also, I'd still attribute this to some lack of finesse on MY part.

Hopefully that helps. If you have any questions, ask away, Strops are fascinating for me, and I have more than I should ;D

A TM Latigo/linen has been my only strop since last spring. Just the other day he opened his shop again and I decided to get a horsehide with cotton - didn't know whether to chose cotton or nylon and just picked randomly.

Regardless, the latigo with a touch up hone has been all I have needed so far, and could continue for the rest of my life as far as I could tell...but addiction kicks in...

Hmm... It is definitely a hard call. Right now I don't have any hones (yet considering a nani 12k for touch ups in the next couple months). However the Filly has the green paste on the back which should suffice for a bit.

I'm really torn on TM quality/praise and the srd quality and praise. I guess I'd like to get the best value with the most future proof till I invest in a touch up hone. The mystery and indecision continues.....

as always all the comments thoughts and other directions are appreciated. I haven't made it to strop enthusiast yet but my other AD's are definitely in the mostly controllable states ,.... I think... hope... errr....

Ok so I just exited the shave den and wanted to report

Golden Dollar Straight
Penworks 22mm Silver Tip
T&H 1805 sc
witch hazel

ok ok styptic too...

Not a bad 1st venture. A few small nicks and and a sore spot. Compared to 1st venturing into DE this isn't too aweful. Had more nicks with DE when I started and only a few patchs missed.

Overall... not a bad start and just may need to try again tomorrow...

Tony Miller 2.5 inch Artisan Latigo & Linen was my 1st strop. My second was Tony Miller Horse Hide & Cotton, Artisan 2.5 inch.
I would buy another strop, but it would be Tony Miller, but I have no need.

Tony Miller & don't look back! This has been a plug for Tony Miller!