Thread: Whats the difference?

Between various leathers and there effect on the razors edge? I have seen latigo, english bridle etc. Is there a leather that people recommend more than others?

Originally Posted by Scookum

Between various leathers and there effect on the razors edge? I have seen latigo, english bridle etc. Is there a leather that people recommend more than others?

I had an illinois 827 imperial russian. I used it for 3 months and hated it. Some guys really like this strop. I then bought a really nice 3" English bridle and the difference, to me, was night and day. Some guys dont like english bridle. I also strop on a paddle strop sometimes and I get good results from it to. The fact of the matter is its all personal preference. If you dont have much experience stropping, dont go high end right away. Perfect your stropping technique first over a few months and then buy something nice. This is just my 2 cents. Im sure the mentors will be by with more info for you.

Scookum, I have alot of the same kinds of questions about strops & stropping. It seems like an area where we've recovered little of what was once known by barbers and cutlers. I tend to listen carefully to anything the Millers (Tony and Neil) say about the topic, and afdavis. It was afdavis that pointed me back at the high-draw leathers as part of a progression from high to low-draw leathers - not unlike low grit to high grit stones in honing. I like the result, but still have way more questions than answers. The topic is getting attention in the mentor forum & I expect we'll see more on the topic - to everyone's benefit.

For reference, I started w/ a strop very similar to the Ill. 827. The draw was high. I was awkward at keeping a smooth stroke over what seemed like a sticky surface. I got some lower draw strops and it was much easier. Now, I'm back to latigo for the first 50-100 strokes, then go to the light draw strops. The edges seem to like it, so I'll keep this up until something more effective is found.

Tough question...

The facts, few that they are show that stropping on plain leather shows NO difference to the edge under high magnification at all (Voerhaven Paper) now 1000's of shavers will tell you that is not true

So here you are asking is there a difference between certain leathers ??? The answer will vary with each persons experience..

Keep in mind that I have no proof, but IMHO it is the feel of the draw that makes a strop Good or Bad for each person, if you like that feel then you will strop well and get a good feel on the face..
Just for comparison with the Illinois #827 that Harry mentioned, I find to have an almost perfect draw for me, so they are my goto work strops..

So in conclusion I doubt anyone could provide proof that any one leather is "better" for stropping assuming it is leather that is proper for Straight Razor stropping..

Hello Scookum, that is a tough compound question. To answer the second part of the question, the effect of a stropping leather is entirely dependent on the stopper. All stropping leathers, when used properly, will refine an edge and make it feel good on your face. For the second question, some leathers are softer, more supple, some are stiffer, all of which seem to afffect the feel of the draw as you strop.

I have an Illinios 827. The stropping surface is the backside of the Illinois 127 surface, pressed to make it smooth. It's kinda funky in that sense, but it is, fo me, an excellent stropping surface. I like the feel of the draw, some don't. Just like some people like Mt. Dew, and some people prefer Dr. Pepper. However, the 827, when used properly, will refine an edge just like an English Bridle Strop, or Latigo, or whatever else. I hope this helps.

I find (and this is of course just my opinion), that different leathers produce different feels. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

I prefer the edge to an SRD Premium I to the SRD Roo. I prefer the poly webbing to the premium cotton. It's about how it feels A) in your hand when you strop, and B) on your face when you shave. I like having lots of strops to play around with, and to compare. I think it just really comes down to the draw and your personal preference. I like heavy draw strops when I'm stropping, so it's no surprise that I like the edges from heavy draw strops on my face.

My two cents.

Thanks fellas, that makes things clear like mud

I had a strop in latigo and wrecked it, so now I ordered a SRD strop that was on sale, its kangaroo and I got a latigo replacement. I've been practicing the flip on a board strop I made with a piece of leather off my wrecked one and its going pretty good, so far. Hopefully I dont wreck the new one!

Take it slow and easy....you'll get there. I bet on this entire forum of 40 odd thousand members you could count on 1 hand the number who have not completely ruined or heavily nicked their first strop.

At this point, focus on developing proper stropping technique. Any of the leathers from SRD, or any of the other reputable strop makers, will do an equally good job on your razors. Leather preferences are primarily subjective, based on what one likes in terms of feel, draw and feedback. Almost all newbies ruin one or more strops. There are some quality inexpensive strops which are ideal to practice on while you develop your technique. These will do an equally good job on the edge without you being so concerned about nicking them. Once your technique is better you can enjoy your SRD or other premium strop.

Originally Posted by Maxi

you could count on 1 hand the number who have not completely ruined or heavily nicked their first strop.

that would be me. First strop was flawless. Sold it to a friend, bought a much nicer strop, and wrecked THAT one instead!