X Pattern and 3 inch wide

Fatboy Slim(Tim) came over this past weekend and was showing me his strops. He owns just about every strop out there right now. He told me that he liked the 2-2.5 inch strops better than the 3. He feels like he gets more out of the X pattern to help bring his blades back to par on the smaller strops.

I feel the same way. I am still relatively new at this and started with an Illinios 827 strop which is 2.5 inches wide. I had to return that back to the vendor because of the leather shrinking but it still taught me the X pattern.

I ended up buying a 3 inch TM Latigo strop and it came in the week. I guess my question is do you still think the X pattern is effective on the 3 inch wide strops?

Im not sure if Im not used to the 3 inch wide strops yet, but do most people do the X or just go straight up and down. I seem to be finding that the practice strop actually works better since it is 2 inches wide. Again, Im not sure if this is just in my head or I haven't found the best method for the 3 inch strops.

To sum up it my questions are
Do you prefer the narrower strops 2-2.5 inches?
Do you still do the X pattern on the 3 inch wide strops?
Do you feel the X pattern is more effective for stropping your blade?

Yes, yes, and yes a little better.

I concur on all three.

I own a number of strops: 2," 2.5," and 3." After using all three sizes over a period of time, I find that I prefer the 2.5" -- I find that with that size I'm better able to keep the blade in proper contact with the leather.

I personally prefer a 2 1/2" over any other width for general use. Even the proportions of a 2 1/2" just look better to me but the marketplace wants the 3" it seems over everything. Maybe it is the bigger is better concept. If you look at the Dovo/Jemico offerings most of their line ends at 2" with various 1 1/2" and 1 3/4" models but a single 3". A quick ebay search will find most of the traditional USA strops were 2 1/2" as is most of the Illinois line from years ago.

I do think a 3" may be easier for a beginner though as there is no "need" to do an X-pattern and I always wonder how many newbies nick their strops trying to learn the half flip, slide sideways, finish the flip move that the x-pattern requires at the end of each pass.

Some may argue that the wider 3" width is more likely to cup but from what I have seen that is more a result of the type of leather used than the width. A properly constructed 3" wide strop from the right leather will remain reasonably flat. I have owned many a commercial 2" model that went from flat to cupped in a very short time.

My 2 cents.

Tony

Yeah I prefer the 2 1/2 as well but I also use the 2 3/4 and 3". Matter of fact not long ago I ordered another horse/latigo/linen from Tony in 2 1/2 and sold my 3" in the classifieds. I guess I'm used to that size from my vintage strops. I have no problem doing the x stroke on my SRD premium 1 though and basically there is little if any difference to me between the two sizes.

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Yes, yes, and yes a little better.

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As above.
I've even used a 1.5" auto strop for a while. Don't find size matters too much.

I specifically ordered a 3" latigo when I was wet behind the ears, to avoid decrease the likelihood of nicks from turning the blade in the X pattern. By now, I've become proficient enough so it doesn't matter as much but ironically, I took my practice stop on vacation and the first time I used it, made a nasty cut on the thing. I see no difference in the effect on the blade either way.

What is really funny for me is that I still have 20 2 1/2 vintage strops in my closet and for 35 years I would use nothing else. I avoided the 3 inch strop for a few years after they were introduced and thought I would never use one. Then after using one for a few weeks, very much to my surprise I ended up not being able to imagine using any strop other than the 3 inch. They are simply the most comfortable size strop out there regardless of whether you do an X stroke or not. They are so easy to keep the spine and edge on when stropping, that I am amazed they did not produce these in the ol' days.

I still use those 2 1/2 inch vintage strops whenever I am testing leathers so that I know I am getting as good or better results than from the vintage stuff, but even my Kanayama which I enjoy a ton, along with my vintage strops just feel so small to me now.

It's still really a personal preference thing on most of this. I know when I used the strop that is also 3 inches longer than normal, I really enjoy it and that only took a day or two to get used to. I still don't mind the regular length near as much as I do the vintage width. Oh well..........

Have fun,

Lynn

Been doing a whole bunch of stropping mainly to further refine my skill but to start to get a feel for the 3 inch. I have been doing the X pattern and have been getting really good results.

I would like to be able to go up and down as well and get good results but more practice is needed.

Thank you for all the thoughtful replies

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

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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

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

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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?

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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....