Thread: Too much draw?

How much draw is too much? I traded in my pretty nicked up English bridle strop for a SRP Buffalo strop and liked it first. Then it seemed like the draw got heavier and heavier until now it is almost irritating how much friction there is. I tried with the strop very taut and fairly slack and no change.

I rubbed it down with neetsfoot oil and no change. Any thoughts?

how about rubbing it with palm? did you do that? also some people like to take their strops and lightly sand with higher grit sandpaper and then condition. also you might be using too much pressure.

Originally Posted by Swerve

how about rubbing it with palm? did you do that? also some people like to take their strops and lightly sand with higher grit sandpaper and then condition. also you might be using too much pressure.

I rub the strop with the palm before stropping every day. I used the same pressure I usually use with the bridle but perhaps I need to back off even more. will try that in the AM, thanks

I hate to tell you this, but rubbing neetsfoot oil and the like normally increases draw

If you like no draw, Horsehide is the way to go. Mine is pretty slick.

I never condition, soap, oil, etc....The only thing I ever do to my strops is rub them down with the palm of my hand. The draw stays the same.
YMMV.

Originally Posted by zib

I hate to tell you this, but rubbing neetsfoot oil and the like normally increases draw.

exactly. that's annother thing I was gonna say

Yup, neetsfoot oil increases draw. Try rubbing the strop with a hand that's been moistened with water. Not nearly enough to soak the strop, but enough to be able to see a little water on the surface of the strop. It should only take a few seconds of rubbing before the strop feels dry again. Repeat as necessary. I like a fast smooth draw and do this on occasion.

Originally Posted by zib

I hate to tell you this, but rubbing neetsfoot oil and the like normally increases draw

If you like no draw, Horsehide is the way to go. Mine is pretty slick.

I never condition, soap, oil, etc....The only thing I ever do to my strops is rub them down with the palm of my hand. The draw stays the same.
YMMV.

lol, of course. wrong move but I tried.I stropped on it the day after and while it didn't make it better it didn't make it appreciably worse, either.

I'm not sure what I like as far as draw. Is there any advantage, prep wise to the blade on a strop with minimal vs maximal draw? or is it just personal preference for feel in the process?

it really depends on the person and how they react to having more draw, and how good their technique is. more draw is faster than less draw (which unfortunately also means its easier to mess up your edge).

Originally Posted by Swerve

it really depends on the person and how they react to having more draw, and how good their technique is. more draw is faster than less draw (which unfortunately also means its easier to mess up your edge).

Interesting. I found the opposite. with my buffalo strop with so much draw it seems to really slow my stroke down with my friction, not speed it up.

Originally Posted by RogueRazor

I'm not sure what I like as far as draw. Is there any advantage, prep wise to the blade on a strop with minimal vs maximal draw? or is it just personal preference for feel in the process?

I'm not really sure if more or less gives a 'better' edge. I like a very moderate amount of draw with moderate pressure on the spine and very light, if any pressure, on the edge after the flip.

I found materials with a lot of draw, latigo for example, gave me the feeling the blade could be snatched out of my hand, or maybe turn in my hand unintentionally, if I didn't use a really light pressure on the spine, and go uncomfortably ( for me) slow. I couldn't get a smooth and rhythmic cadence going with the heavier draw, the way I can with horse or premium 1 with their light draw. Maybe if I had practiced more with the latigo I would have gotten the same smooth flow with that surface, but I had the horse and was too comfortable with that to fool with the latigo anymore.

I guess for some guys more draw feels like it is doing more to the edge than a light draw? With my own stropping I think whatever a light draw might lose in effectiveness, if anything, is compensated for by a more coordinated and smoother flow I can achieve with the lighter draw. OTOH, someone else might be able to say the same thing about the heavier draw. YMMV to the max.