Thread: Hanging vs. Paddle

I have a bunch, Hanging, Vintage Hanging, Paddles, Loom. They all get you there.
One thing I've found while stopping is not to hold the strop to taught. Now, I know some will disagree, but I think it works better, we're not talking a big loop here, just not so tight that you can bounce a quarter off it, just a little give. My favorite paddle is SRD's, not the modular, but the one with the Premium 1 leather on one side, and the rough leather on the other side. It's a great paddle.

I have to +1 with Jeremy and the modular strop i just got it and it really is awesome! Get one and you will not be sorry

I have always used a hanging strop, but have a question now that people are speaking so highly of the paddles. If one hones with tape and keeps the tape on thru CrO, and then stops on a paddle, do you really have enough give in the leather to touch the real edge of the blade. I understand the geometry of honing and stoping without tape on either a paddle or hanging strop, but in my mind it seems like it should be different if one uses tape. Thanks for your thoughts.

Lewis

tape won't make a difference with a modern thick leather paddle

The hanging strop is the classic way to strop and that's probably why it's the most popular. I have both hanging and paddle but I reserve my small paddle for travel and I have two bench strops which are basically large paddles I use for diamond paste and CrO.

As they say all roads lead to Rome.

Thanks for everyone's post. I'm leaning towards the paddle because I'm having the difficulty of not having an ideal place to hang a strop.

Just mho from a rookie. I use the SRD modular paddle with bridle leather and hard felt, and I also have a new Kanayama Cordovan 60000. What is working best for me post shave is 15 to 20 passes on the hard felt pad followed by 20 passes on the bridle leather and then 30 passes on the Kanayama. Pre-shave another 20 to 30 passes on the Kanayama. I am probably overdoing it? but it is the best routine for me I've found yet. After about 10 shaves I use my second modular felt pad with the .5 micron diamond spray and then move through the post shave drill. I have to admit I have never felt a piece of leather in my life like the Kanayama it is such a pleasure to use. The razor is truly drawn to it.

The paddle is more versatile for several reasons. It's easier to travel with,you do not want to fold a regular strop in a suitcase. It will ruin it. The paddle is interchangeable,and in the long run that is awesome. You can try other leathers and use several different pads for different paste applications. Plus i found it easier to learn how to strop on. I started out with a SRD original version paddle(it didn't have the interchangeable pads and leathers) and learned the proper technique before i went out and bought a regular strop. Now i have several different strops plus the SRD original paddle. And i use them all