Thread: 2" vs. 3" strop

A 3 inch stone vs a 2 inch stone is not quite the same as a 3 inch strop vs a 2 inch strop. Unlike stone, leather is not a rigid substance. It can bend and it can cup. The wider the strop, the more possibility of the leather to "cup" in the center which makes for uneven stropping or to "bulge" in the center causing the same thing. Not that it has to happen, simply that it is more likely to happen.

Originally Posted by stonehenge

A 3 inch stone vs a 2 inch stone is not quite the same as a 3 inch strop vs a 2 inch strop. Unlike stone, leather is not a rigid substance. It can bend and it can cup. The wider the strop, the more possibility of the leather to "cup" in the center which makes for uneven stropping or to "bulge" in the center causing the same thing. Not that it has to happen, simply that it is more likely to happen.

That's a very good point. My son pointed out to me the other day as he watched me strop that my strop, with is a quite narrow Dovo, was cupped and the middle of the razor wasn't touching the surface. I need to manually bend it back into shape. I think maybe this was caused by me pulling on the razor handle too tightly...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

That's a very good point. My son pointed out to me the other day as he watched me strop that my strop, with is a quite narrow Dovo, was cupped and the middle of the razor wasn't touching the surface. I need to manually bend it back into shape. I think maybe this was caused by me pulling on the razor handle too tightly...

Thus the wisdom in using an X stroke while stropping,you can cover the entire edge even on a cupped strop.
Thats why I started using loom strops,cupping is not an issue.

In my experience cupping is more to do with the rigidity of the attachment points and how the load is distributed than it is a direct function of width.

The X stroke will get you there on a strop, for sure. But, again in my experience only, I believe there are many other ways to skin that cat - windscreen wiper, C pattern, straight up and down concentrating on various parts of the edge as you go etc.

And to be honest with you, you should really try to fix the cupping problem with the leather rather than compensate for it by using an x stroke. That is, if you can fix the cupping issue - if you cannot fix the cupping issue, I'd suggest you either contact the maker if it is new, or look around for a better strop if it is vintage.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

In my experience cupping is more to do with the rigidity of the attachment points and how the load is distributed than it is a direct function of width.

IINM, how the leather was cut & stored is also a factor.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Thus the wisdom in using an X stroke while stropping,you can cover the entire edge even on a cupped strop.
Thats why I started using loom strops,cupping is not an issue.

What loom strop do you use? I was thinking about getting one of the Livi loom strips but wasn't sure about usin it for day to day use. Any benefits or downsides you've noticed in using it day to day?

I have only used the 2 1/2 inch and look forward to a 3 inch. I will be ordering the natural from SRD in the 3 inch

Originally Posted by Jimbo

...In my experience cupping is more to do with the rigidity of the attachment points and how the load is distributed than it is a direct function of width...

Hi James, can you explain further? My Dovo strop is attached to a towel rail with a carabiner via the round attachment point. I hold the square shaped handle in one hand, using my first two fingers. Do you think maybe I'm pulling on one side more than the other?

I think he meant how the hardware is attached to the strop. The Dovo strops use full width hardware, they should be less prone to cupping than other strops which only use partial width hardware.

3" for me. As everything else in this great adventure, it's a matter of personal preference.........