Thread: X Pattern and 3 inch wide

Thanks for asking the question. I just got a TM 3" strop and also a SRD 3" strop and was wondering if I need to do X pattern.

I decided not to use X pattern at the start and just go straight up and and down. So far it seems to be working for me.

For those that do X pattern on a 3" - have you ever tried just going straight up and down the strop? What differences did you notice in your razor?

In my every growing "AD's" I just added SRD's Premium 1 and Extra long Premium IV.
Since I couldn't decide, I got both. The leather on both strops is extraordinary, really.
And, they compliment each other wonderfully. I'll start on the bridle leather, a bit more draw than the 1, I'll do 25 linen or cotton weave, then 25 IV and 25 premium 1. I love to change it up. I have old 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5. When I use the 3, I don't do the x stroke.
I don't lift the blade at all off the strop, but very quickly roll it on it's spine. The SRD Leather is so supple, it's amazing. You get that aroma of leather while you strop which I love. They also give me the best finish on my blades to date. Good job SRD!

P.S. It's good if you practice the X stroke once in a while just to keep up on it. That's why I have smaller strops. I would use them if I travel, or my SRD Paddle. However, I've noticed no difference going up and down on my 3" strops vs the X stroke...As previously mentioned, I think my edges are better since I've gone to SRD's premium line...If you have the mean, I highly recommend their Premium 1 or 4 either would compliment your latigo....

I use an X pattern mixed with normal straight strokes, hell on razors I've had to hone with a rolling X, I'll do a rolling X on my stropping to make sure Im touching all of the edge. Each razor being different, but I love 3 wide strops, but it's all I've owned but I like doing Xpatterns.


cheers
David

Originally Posted by Sirshavesalot

I use an X pattern mixed with normal straight strokes, hell on razors I've had to hone with a rolling X, I'll do a rolling X on my stropping to make sure Im touching all of the edge. Each razor being different, but I love 3 wide strops, but it's all I've owned but I like doing Xpatterns.


cheers
David

You sound like a man who likes to live Dangerously....I like that....

Originally Posted by akw

Thanks for asking the question. I just got a TM 3" strop and also a SRD 3" strop and was wondering if I need to do X pattern.

I decided not to use X pattern at the start and just go straight up and and down. So far it seems to be working for me.

For those that do X pattern on a 3" - have you ever tried just going straight up and down the strop? What differences did you notice in your razor?

The razor will determine your stropping choices. see pics
A straight blade like the DD wedge you can go up & down but on a smiler with a curved edge, like the Tally ho, a rolling X is the only way that I know to hone or strop

I like the three inchers but I have an urge to trim one of them down to 2 3/4 ". This width would feel more comfortable in my hand but I doubt that there is a way to trim a 3" web strop down to 2 3/4" without ruining the web.

I recently saw an ad for a 2 3/4" strop but can't remember where I saw it. Any help with this one??

I recently bought some 3 inch strips of bridle leather and would not have a problem cutting one of them down to 2 3/4". As soon as I find my strip cutter, look out!!! I have so many tools hidden in so many boxes in my garage, I could open a hardware store.

thanks for the SRD thoughts ZIB - I have actually multiple times gone back to the 4 premiums hoping to figure out which one would be best, but they all sound so great and I end up wandering out back for several hours in disarray.

I just got a couple of beautiful strops from Tony, and I love the 3" genuine linen - since the edge-formation is less important on the linen, its really luxurious to just run up and down without the X or anything on the 3" linen. I have also been experimenting with a little bit of "swooping", "rolling" and "angling" on the 3", so that I do vary the pressure and attentioni to various parts of the edge (what I imagine is the point of the X-stroke) but dont actually have to move the blade too much side-to-side/laterally.

While we're on the subject: I picked up an old Dubl Duck Cordovan strop on a lark (on the bay) for a couple of bucks, and spent last week cleaning and restoring it. Came out beautiful - but *so* slick - having learned on strops like the Dovo Juchten/Russian, it just doesnt feel right for it to be so slick, like there isnt enough friction or "glue" to the blade contact (you know what I mean? how the edge sort of "locks on" to the leather when it has the right amount of draw?). I looked through some old threads and saw people - including Lynn -- saying that the old Cordovan slickness is fine, still works great, but it just doesn't feel right. (I know, I know, someone will say, "Well, how does it shave?" But I couldnt even bring myself to do a full stropping and full shave just on the Dubl Duck....)

Oh, strops. How they complement blades and hones: soft, delicate, organic....