Thread: The filly backside too rough???

I currently have a Filly strop and, whilst I like it just fine for normal stropping, I am not too keen on the texture of the reverse (CrOx) side when the need arises. It may be functional but it feels very rough and as such provides unpleasant feedback.
This is in no way intended as a slight against the well regarded strop but merely as an observation from my personal standpoint.
Anyway, the point of this thread is to ask if anyone else is of a similar opinion and if so have you done anything about it, suggestions for the best way to create a smoother surface, etc, or should I just leave it well alone.

Any opinions (within reason) much appreciated.

Cheers
Jim

I think it's fine, personally. One of my late Christmas presents was a Filly. While I have experience with some other strops, I can not think of a damned thing wrong with the Filly; back or front. In fact, my 5/8 wedge needed a touch up just recently and the "rough" side of the Filly did the job just fine. If you use a light touch and only use that side as intended, you shouldn't have any problems.

+1 to the above....

I agree, there's nothining 'wrong' with it and it does the job it is intended for.
I'm just kinda looking for ideas on how to make it a little more tactile.

My strop has a canvas with it. Am I supposed to be using the back side of the leather too?

Originally Posted by mackie

My strop has a canvas with it. Am I supposed to be using the back side of the leather too?

No typically not, just sometimes. The Filly you are intended to but most strops not.

It's an abrasive paste so it's supposed to be rough. Also, I only do 2-4 passes on it once every few weeks or so, whenever the shave is a little rough.

I don't think smoothing out the flip side will yield any better results. The flip side of the filly is CrOxpasted, and you are not going to do more than 10 swipes on it anyway. I often use pasted balsa after a honing progression and though it is obviously a much smoother surface than the back of a filly strop -- I am not sure I can tell the difference at all.

But maybe I have a tin face and can't feel the subtleties . ..

How do you secure the Filly? the picture just looks like it has a leather piece of string. Any pics of it secured?
When would you actually use the other rougher side?

I have the filly although I don't have any experience with other strops I love it, I'm going to wait untill I get fairly good at stropping and upgrade to somthing better but there is nothing wrong with The Filly.