Definitive Strop Thread

[ShavedZombie]

This is a bit of new information for me; a finishing strop, touch up, work horse.....?

I thought they were all supposed to be "do it all" which I always thought the "all" was just one thing to realign the edge.

Please explain the need for multiple strops

To be blunt, there is no need for multiple strops. There is also no need for multiple shaving soaps, creams, colognes, You don't need more than two razors, etc. etc. When you get down to it, you actually don't need mroe than like 5 shirts...

I'm getting a little off topic...

There really is no need for multiple strops, I just have Strop AD (Acquisition Disorder) and find strops to be fascinating... I love how different leathers effect the edge... You only need one good strop to hold you through, but multiple strops -like multiple hones- allow you to more fine tune the results

I own a few and IMO the TM has the best fit and finish.

Wuff, I'm curious to know what few you own to compare the TM to, just out of curiosity.

Thanks!

[ShavedZombie]

This is a bit of new information for me; a finishing strop, touch up, work horse.....?

I thought they were all supposed to be "do it all" which I always thought the "all" was just one thing to realign the edge.

Please explain the need for multiple strops

Allow me to go into greater detail... for the most part, all strops can do the job (although, there are a few outliers taht may have too light of draw to see the whole thing done... But that's the vast minority)

I like to have a strop for every imaginable scenario, and just play around with configurations, rotations, that stuff... Have you ever listened to honemeisters talk about different effects on different razors from different hones? Naniwas do "so and so", Nortons do "X attribute", and coticules cause "x result"... I'm like that, but with strops.. I just have a thing for strops... It's fun to experiment with them.

Also, if you don't want to buy a ton of strops like me, ignore my first, long post... REad the second one. If you want one single strop that, day in and day out, will beat 9/10 of the competition, hands down, bar none. SRD English Bridle Premium IV. At least, IMO, nothing compares to it without going over 100 dollars... Sometimes obscenely over that mark.

Just my personal insanity, though.

Cheers,
Jeremy

[BeBerlin]

It depends on what you want to achieve. I honestly do not believe in the latest rave, ie "finishing strops". All I am asking of a strop is that it helps me maintain my razor, and is well made. Leaving linen or other alternative sides out of the equation, this is the perfect strop: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...nal-natur.html. The Kanayama 90k might be better, but I have not seen it yet. Applying some price/value logic, SRD's strops are a more sensible alternative, though.

[wuff]

I have SRD wool felt and webbed fabric, Kanayama 80000, TM tri strop with D rings and natural linen, Vintage cordovan with diamond stamped leather, Vintage Dubl Duck Satinedge. Long Premium IV is in the mail.

[Jimbo]

Spend enough time with any strop with good leather and you will find it does everything you need. The rest is just trimmings IMO.

James.

[ShavedZombie]

Well, Robin, I didn't actually get into the whole "finishing strop" thing as the 'latest thing' -no offense intended- I actually started believing in the power of the finishing strop when, as with so many other things, Lynn educated me... He showed me a razor fresh off of Bridle... Very sharp. Gave it a few laps on the Premium I (SRD's finisher) And gave it back to me... The difference was ASTOUNDING. IT really just made a fantastic difference.

I have also heard wonderful things about the Old Natur... HAven't gotten my hands on one yet, sadly.

Also, Most of the time I only use 1 or two strops when I shave -and 8/10 times, I reach for the Bridle-... However, when I'm playing with strop rotations, or have time for a LONG shave on the weekend, I just enjoy stropping, so I go through the full rotation to get it as blisteringly sharp as I can... Stropping is just fun for me.

[ShavedZombie]

I have SRD wool felt and webbed fabric, Kanayama 80000, TM tri strop with D rings and natural linen, Vintage cordovan with diamond stamped leather, Vintage Dubl Duck Satinedge. Long Premium IV is in the mail.

Good pick on the purchase .... Maybe I am just a liiiittle biased, haha.

A few questions if you don't mind... What do you think of the Kanayama? I've heard great things about them, but only had hands on with the 30000, and even that was delightful (even if I prefer 3'' strops). Also, with the TM Tri Strop, when you fold the Linen over the leather component to get to the leather, do you ever experience it twisting the leathers? Tony told me he stopped selling them because that could happen, and was outside of his Quality Control preferences... What do you think of it.

Spend enough time with any strop with good leather and you will find it does everything you need. The rest is just trimmings IMO.

James.

That's true. It's also true that, with just a set of norton 1/4/8k's, you can get almost any blade shaving... But people still buy high grits, different brands, etc... I just do that to strops

[BeBerlin]

[...]Gave it a few laps on the Premium I (SRD's finisher) And gave it back to me... The difference was ASTOUNDING. IT really just made a fantastic difference.

Funny thing, that. I use the Premium I as my daily strop, not for finishing. It works exceedingly well. Ah, well, different strokes...

[wuff]

Good pick on the purchase .... Maybe I am just a liiiittle biased, haha.

A few questions if you don't mind... What do you think of the Kanayama? I've heard great things about them, but only had hands on with the 30000, and even that was delightful (even if I prefer 3'' strops). Also, with the TM Tri Strop, when you fold the Linen over the leather component to get to the leather, do you ever experience it twisting the leathers? Tony told me he stopped selling them because that could happen, and was outside of his Quality Control preferences... What do you think of it.

Tony no longer offers the three componets together my linen componet is seperate. As far as the Kanayama goes I have never felt a more supple leather with such a buttery smooth draw, the horse hide that comes with it is VERY substantial with similar draw to my TM horsehide but about double the thickness.

[ShavedZombie]

To each his own, Robin. It may also end up being my daily strop along with the Bridle, and then I'd keep using the Horsehide from TM as a touchup/finisher... All I know is what I felt in that instance, so I'm not the final word in this, by any stretch.

Cheers,
Jeemy