Thread: So many options??

If you know what you like, "draw wise" that can be of great help. All of SRD's strops are made from quality leather. Latigo's have very heavy draw, while horsehide has very little. (Draw is the amount of resistance you feel while the blade passes over the leather during stropping)

I would recommend SRD's Premium 1. You really can't go wrong with it. It has a soft supple feel, and is "middle of the road" as far as draw goes. It's one my personal favorites...


Having the option to replace parts is great. Also, If a strop is cut, and cannot be fixed, you can always use the remaining leather to make a paddle.

Draw is an interesting topic (to me) Draw IMO is purely a feeling.
Do's more or less draw mean anything? I think not, JMO.
Why do people even talk about Draw? what effect do's draw have on a razors edge,If any.I think none.Always willing to learn tho
Please tell me what draw do's,more draw,or less draw.

Pix, fwiw, stropping, and specific stropping techniques seem like a large area where we seem to have recovered very little of the old knowledge. I'm wishing we could get afdavis, Tony & Neil Miller to weigh in here.

I've often wanted to know what specific material or technique would be right for a particular desired result. I'm in the same boat w/ you about not knowing much about the differences. I asked around and several thought using a heavy draw leather, then a light draw was good for an edge. That's what I've done lately, and it seems better - but with all the variable, I wouldn't have a clue as to why. I have & use an SRP P1, a home-made latigo, a home-made horse hide (belly leather), an old russian shell, and recently picked up an old Clydesdale shell strop. I find myself having the most confidence in that old home-made latigo and then the horse-hide after fabric. Maybe TBS is right about any good strop giving the same result. If so (entirely likely), I've obsessed way too much about trying to learn more about strops & stropping.

Another curiosity for me is the difference/benefit of real linen (flax fiber) vs 'linen weave' cotton.

For the OP - I can't imagine you could possibly go wrong w/ an SRD of any kind. I think its worth having one even if you replaced every component. I can't speak for SRD's latigo - I've only used the P1. But SRD premiums are the only 3" strop I trust to stay flat and not cup. Any other strop - I won't own a 3" width. If you went w/ the Latigo and wanted to change - you'll probably be able to still use the latigo to good effect. Its one you can buy and not worry about regrets.

Thanks for all the opinions guys! I like the sound of a draw so I believe I will try the latigo! Continue this 'difference' debate as I'm interested.

I bought the red Latigo srd strop 3 years ago and it's the only one I have, I don't have SAD but I do have RAD !!!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Draw is an interesting topic (to me) Draw IMO is purely a feeling.
Do's more or less draw mean anything? I think not, JMO.
Why do people even talk about Draw? what effect do's draw have on a razors edge,If any.I think none.Always willing to learn tho
Please tell me what draw do's,more draw,or less draw.

I'm with you on this one. I don't think draw has much to do with anything honestly, IMHO, other than personal preference. It's good to know info if your new. A while ago, I used a Latigo first, then finished up with horsehide, (heavy draw than basially no draw) TBH, I never noticed a difference. I just got to use two strops. Maybe it's me, I'm sure some will disagree. I've seen this topic discussed on other forums, and I think testing was done and It was decided this has no effect on the final edge or shave (the two strop deal) Stropping itself is necessary.

You have guys that soap up they're strops, this increases draw, and I guess conditions the leather? The only thing I don't like, is what else is in the soap besides the obvious conditioner's. Why not just use leather conditioner? I know it was mentioned in a Barber's manaual back in the 1920's or something. The soaps today are most definitley different. I also like my strops the way they are. They don't need anything. I do the old hand rub, that's it. I don't think I could bring myself to rub soap into the fine leather strops we have today...But to each his own, whatever floats your boat. Maybe an old vintage strop that needs some tlc. I think what it boils down too, is what you like.

Maybe someone with a 200x usb micro, can take photo's of an edge before and after stropping on different type strops. Latigo, Horsehide, Roo,etc.. That'd be interesting to see...

I think the draw one feels when stropping can be compared to the feeling you get from the stones when honing. I can normally tell when my blade has been stropped enough by the feel of the draw much like I do when moving from one grit to the next when honing. So while agree that it doesn't matter what original draw a strop has but learning how the strop and blade feel together I think can become a very valuable tool.

My sense is that draw is a subjective preference and has no effect on the edge. My first strop was the SRD 3" latigo, but I later decided that I prefer a lighter draw. The latigo also has a "waxy" feeling to me that I don't care for. The SRD Premium 1 and Premium 4 (english bridle) will have a lighter draw than latigo, and the horsehide will be even lighter. Some may feel that horsehide has so little draw that it's too slick. It's all a matter of what feedback you enjoy when stropping.