Thread: plans for new strop

so i was tossing around the idea of getting a four sided paddle strop, so that i can paste three of the sides, but then i read the reviews for the modular strop at SRD so now i want that one.

i was wondering, of the changeable surfaces which one is used for pastes? also what is the difference between .5 diamond and .5 chromium oxide, also the paste vs. spray? i have never used strop pastes before, i read up on applying them and it seems easy enough...i hope
thanks

-dan-

I’ve been buying different strops over the last year, a couple Latigo (one red the other black) with either a felt back or a linen back, a TM vegan strop, a TI paddle strop, and a VB English Bridle is my most current strop.

I was surprised by the difference in draw between the two Latigo strops, with the red having a better feel to me than the black. On the linen back, I have used .5 CrO paste, and the felt back I use .5 diamond spray, with much better results on the felt/diamond strop. I have only used the TM vegan strop with two razors to see the difference and the draw is a little easier/softer than the Latigo’s with great results for the shave.

The TI paddle is quite narrow for my preference, but as a travel strop, it is a great tool to have in the repertoire.

The most recent purchase of the English Bridle strop is quite impressionable for the first 3 days of use. It has a great feel to the draw, and has provided superlative shaves compared to the latigo’s and the TM vegan.

While these are all good products, if I had to do it all over again and get ‘only one’, as the “Highlander” fans can attest, ‘there can be only one’, my choice would be the English Bridle with a hard felt back (using 0.5 diamond spray).

I do have the SRD / Lynn Abrams magnetic paddle strop enroute… so jury is still out there, but initial reviews by others are good.