Paddle or Hanging?

My razor is winging its way from San Francisco as I (can't wait!), and I hope to be able to afford a strop before it arrives. I've read about not storing one's razor in the bathroom (too humid) and today I now read it's also not a good place to store a strop. Though I guess the bathroom may have been the 'traditional' place to store these items, bathrooms may have been less humid (less use of hot water) and some would have used washstands in a bedroom to shave at. Based on the facts that my bathroom is quite humid (small, old house, long, hot showers), and I may like to hone and strop at night in the lounge room, I'm considering what sort of strop to buy. I'm thinking maybe a paddle strop as it might allow more flexibility in regards to stropping location (no need to attach hanging strop). I think if I strop at night and store the razor in my bedroom, it might be pretty close to being OK to use the next morning. If not, no probs, I can still strop a bit in the morning. I'm thinking a hanging strop would limit exactly where I could strop. I'm even thinking about when I'm camping. I've seen a Boker paddle strop with a slate stone on one side. Could this device be all that one uses; i.e. instead of an actual sharpening stone to hone on as well?

Boker Smooth Russian Leather Paddle Razor Strop With Razor Stone - Knifecenter.com

carlmaloschneider,

I use paddle strops exclusively for my stropping as I much prefer them to hangers. (I use a 'Mark 1' Straight Razor Designs paddle and my superb aluminum modular paddle from Mr Neil Miller.)

As with all things shaving, you really need to find out for yourself what suits you best - hanger or paddle !

Finding a place to attach the hanger to is not that difficult - people use 'C' hooks, carabiners etc and even strong 'string' to attach the strop to door knobs, towel rails etc. Even when camping I bet you could find somewhere to attach a hanger to :)

So I would suggest you have a go with both types and see what suits you best :)

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Personally, I prefer a hanging strop, but I also have one of those Boker combo rigs.
I haven't used it very often (only for travel), but it seems to be OK for what it is.

I'm not sure about the "stone" side of the Boker combo, because I've only used it
once, but the leather side works well.

I did lap the stone on a DMT 325 plate when I first got it, and it needed it.

Paul

Thanks for the replies; I think I'll go with a paddle strop; but maybe not the combo with the stone. I think I get what you're saying, PaulKidd; that the stone wasn't flat?

No, the stone was pretty flat already. I just meant that I lapped it anyway, but I haven't used
it enough to vouch for it's usefulness as a "touch up" stone.

Sorry, I'm showing my ignorance; I'll need to go and look up 'lapping'... :-)

Let me clarify: If I had to choose, I would choose a hanging strop. But that's my personal
preference.

You can contact either Legion or MickR, both of whom are members here, and they both
make hanging strops made of kangaroo leather. I have one made by MickR, I use it daily,
and I would recommend it to you.

For me, the Boker paddle strop is just too small for daily use. It's fine for travel, but I
would not choose to use it every day.

The Boker leather is good quality, it's just too short and narrow for my taste. The stone
is "slate" and even Boker can't tell you what the grit rating is.

Like I said, I've only used it once, on a road trip, so please don't consider this a full review
of the product.

I have both and much prefer the Paddle strop, in my case the SRD Modular with the Bridle leather pad. I can use my hanging strops but have really gotten fond of sitting and using the paddle strop and doing lots of passes. It's almost a meditative activity like honing can be.

As for stropping before shaving, I don't think it is necessary to strop immediately before a shave. I've never done it. I strop my razor the night before I shave, coat it with Renaissance Wax and store it in the bedroom, not the bathroom. That way, if someone breaks in I can use it for self-defense because it is shave-ready and self-defense-ready as well.

go hanging! dont give in to the easy side!

I like a hanging strop as my daily driver. I mainly use a paddle as a pasted strop once in awhile when I feel the need. The hanging strop having more length is more effective IMO. Here is a tutorial explaining lapping.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I like a hanging strop as my daily driver. I mainly use a paddle as a pasted strop once in awhile when I feel the need. The hanging strop having more length is more effective IMO. Here is a tutorial explaining lapping.

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+1....I use a hanging strop as my daily. Paddles I mainly use for pastes, and find them to be most effective this way. What it boils down to is personal preference, as both will keep you going....

I have only used a hanging strop so far but I don't really feel a need to switch to a paddle strop either. They have worked great.

I use a pasted paddle for razors fresh from the stones, otherwise I use a hanging strop.

I would say, if you are a minimalist, you could get away with one strop or paddle. Size is irrelevant but maybe convenience is everything as you mention camping. Still, I would bet good money you will eventually own more than one strop :)

Again, thanks for all the replies; most helpful. I get the point made about what grit the paddle/stone combo is; I'd probably eventually need a stone anyway. I'm still leaning towards a paddle, mainly because I agree with Ace's comment about the 'meditative' action of stropping. I could really imagine myself sitting in the lounge room by the fire patiently honing and stropping in the evening. It's good to hear it can be done at night, I think I'd be more careful, rather than when I'm all 'bleary eyed' at 0615! I'd probably get a hanging stop later, but for now it seems a bit of a hassle to even find a good spot; if it can't be the towel rack in the bathroom.

It's interesting in a way that they make strops out of Kangaroo skin, not sure why, I just find it interesting...I wonder if it's BETTER than other leathers for this, or if people just find it DIFFERENT?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

My razor is winging its way
...snip...
I've read about not storing one's razor in the bathroom (too humid)
....snip...

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Does the bathroom have a fan?

Humidity that will grow mold on
walls, celling, tile grout, and towels
will also risk rust on a razor and mold on
a leather strop.

Having a bathroom fan that is on a
timer is a very good idea.

A razor can be kept in a cigar box
with a desiccant. Plastic containers
from the kitchen work well too.
The strop can live on a hook in
the closet or any other handy place
but if you use it each day it should
stay fine almost anyplace.

Hi niftyshaving, yes, it has a fan, but it's not working that well. I COULD fix it, maybe, probably, and I PROBABLY will, but I like the idea of the cigar box, and I've seen some cool Thiers Issard cases, I guess a bit of desiccant in the bottom would be a good idea. I think the razor(s) (I'm sure there'll be more than one) should stay on my desk in my bedroom with my fountain pens and cufflinks....

You people with the paddle fetishes, there is something wrong about you!

I kind of go both ways... I have a beautiful hanging strop, but I take it down, lay it flat on my headboard and use it there. I find I do a much better job and the razor seems to respond better.

2 cents.... :)

HammeR

Im personally enjoying my paddle strop. Its not even a paddle. Its a piece of leather that I lay on a flat surface and I just strop away :)