Printable View
So I keep hearing all these great opinions about loyal SRD strop buyers or loyal TM'ers, but as I've come to learn the best opinions come from people who have done something 50+ times on different things (hone 50+ different razors on 10+ stones each, etc.)
So any of you guys out there who have used a LOT of strops FREQUENTLY, what are your preferred strops?
Bwahaha. I have used a LOT of strops -almost every single one of Lynn's. This is excepting the very high priced Kanayamas- And I own adecent chunk of Strops, with more coming :p
So, My prefered strops: I'll do this in categories, because I can't pick one
Favorite paddle: SRD Modular Paddle. Bar None, Lynn struck brilliance with this one. It's longer than a normal paddle, 3'' wide, and MAGNETIC. Swappable materials. Absolutely brilliant. And the craftsmanship is amazing
Favorite "Do-it-all" Strop: Bridle. No Question. SRD Premium IV Bridle, in extra long. The extra 3'' actually DOES make a big difference to me. This thing can, strop for strop, outperform anything -except some luxury/magical vintages, but those aren't mass produced, and taht's from decades of wearing in- These are readily available and my favorite strop to date. They're absolutely wonderful.
Favorite "Work Horse" Strop: This categorie is for High draw, fast action strops. Tie between TM Latigo and SRD Water Bufallo. The Latigo is PERFECT draw for shaping up an edge fast. a good deal heavier than the bridle, so I do less laps on it, and it doesn't have that same "refined" edge I get off the bridle, but it works fast, it works consistently, and it works great. The Water Bufalo from SRD has a bit more draw than latigo, and it pulls edges out wicked keen in record time. Also, the Water Bufallo mag strip for the modular paddle is phenominal. The draw of a TM Latigo
Favorite Finisher: SRD Premium I. It's got all the finishing qualities of horsehide... But it's a cowhide. I dunno how Lynn and Don pulled this off, but I have never felt a sharper razor than one that went from Bridle to Premium I... It was astounding. This is THE finishing strop.
Favorite Touchup strop: This would be a strop that doesn't even have enough draw for daily stropping, and just enough for finishing stropping, but, when used as a finisher, or a polisher it has wonderful results. TM Horsehide. It takes a good deal of breaking in, but once it hits its stride, take a blade from latigo or bridle onto this, and it'll pop hairs left and right.
Favorite Jack of All trades: This is like the do it all, but a little less... The do it all excells at everything. It's a wonder strop. This one does everything quite well, but doesn't leave me jaw-dropped. SRD Red and Black Latigo. It has about the same draw as the TM Latigo , but a wierd almost sticky magnetic feeling. It is good for a beat up edge that needs a heavy hitter, it works well as a daily strop, and it can take a work horse beating. It's also cheaper than the Bridle, so if you aren't ready for the top shelf spending, it's a great way to go to do everything.
Favorite Fabric: I don't have one. I have tasks for them:
- Favorite edge cleaner: TM Linen, it's just the right amount of abrasion
- Favorite everyday fabric: SRD Webbed fabric, hands down
- Favorite CrOx fabric: SRD Webbed fabric, it works GREAT with the stuff
- Favorite Diamond Spray fabric: Wool felt
That's about it. As you can tell, I am a big fan of SRD and also TM. Great great products. Sure if you want to drop 150-200 dollars, a Kanayama might be better. But for under 100, you just cannot beat SRD
However, if I had to pick a single favorite, and just one...
I'd say that would be the Bridle. That's the one strop I will never get rid of, and never stop using. Followed closely by the Premium I, which just does a killer job.
Also, once all the different leathers are available for the Modular paddle (as of now, there's only a pre-strop Scrub Leather (like a fabric component) and the Premium I... I know the Water Buffalo and Bridle will be there soon) I think that paddle will be my favorite, or in the top three... It's just such a beautiful product.
I like the SRD Premium 1, Tony Miller artisan horse/latigo/linen, HandAmerican cordovan/whatever the other side is. Also vintage Red Imp, Koken, C-mon deluxe and hand finished, Dubl Duck Satinedge, FW Engles Russian and a few more I can't think of off the top of my head. :thinking:
Also, for vintages, Lynn had a Pigskin that was amazing, and an ooooold Scotch Lass strop with serious talent
ShavedZombie,Quote:
Originally Posted by ShavedZombie
Holy crap! I hope I never get Strop Aquisition Disorder. I had noooo idea!:D
Vintage Dubl Duck Shell is my favorite. I only own 2 strops though.......
It's funny, because, as of now, I only have four strops...Quote:
Originally Posted by Alembic
I still have my eye on:
- SRD Modular Paddle Strop with .5 Diamond Spray
- SRD Premium I and Herringbone Weave
- SRD Premium III and Webbed Fabric
- SRD Black Latigo and Black Webbed Fabric
- Mastro Livi Loom Strop
- Kanayama Llama Strop
....
I told you, I really like SRD... They just make the best damn strops. :beer1:
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
I own a few and IMO the TM has the best fit and finish.
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by kevint
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
Wuff, I'm curious to know what few you own to compare the TM to, just out of curiosity.Quote:
Originally Posted by wuff
Thanks!
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)Quote:
Originally Posted by kevint
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Good pick on the purchase :tu .... Maybe I am just a liiiittle biased, haha.Quote:
Originally Posted by wuff
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.
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 stropsQuote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Funny thing, that. I use the Premium I as my daily strop, not for finishing. It works exceedingly well. Ah, well, different strokes...Quote:
Originally Posted by ShavedZombie
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 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
Wait, Kanayama does Horsehide too? Or did you mean the Llama strops?Quote:
Originally Posted by wuff
The 80000 is a tri strop.
Aaaah. got it. Thanks
where you shaving on the upper lip? that's where I go to detect strap effectsQuote:
Originally Posted by ShavedZombie
What test(s) did you do?
TPT and Shave test. You could feel the difference on the thumb pad. It was very tangible