JJ Shaves
Senior Member
I use palm strop during the hone of the razor fails HHT. Most of the time after a palm strop the razor passes HHT.
Linen strop
- Thread starter MichaelS
- Start date
Grayswandir
Veteran
Same here. After I hone a razor, I give it a few laps on nylon (no more then 12) to knock off any burrs, then do about 40 laps on leather, then finish off with about 10 laps on the palm of my hand. I just bought a cotton strop and I've been using that to clean/dry razors after wiping the razor down. Then I proceed to nylon and then leather. I want to get myself a flax linen strop, I've heard a lot of good things about them, but I'll be careful, per your comments.
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Twelvefret
Forum GOD!
Yes sir.
JJ Shaves
Senior Member
That would be denim, if they are the “workers jeans” like Levi’s 501. “Jean” is the cut and style, denim is the material most jeans are made from. The strop I use after my finishing stone is cappuccino coloured bull denim use to make chino’s. The strop I use after progressive hone (before finishing) is made out of an old pair of blue denim jeans, so it can be washed easily.
I also have sail canvass strops too, which is untreated and quite heavy. Going heavier is the vintage hose strop, which I only use on a wedge or quarter hollow after progressive hone, it take cinch’s out of extra hollow razors!
I am good friends with Robert Gallacher and when he gets a new strop he sends my one to test, asses and review, I have twenty-three (I think) strops in my shave cave, from old jeans up to shell cordovan, with brass furniture, a couple kangaroo, a few horse, British leather in different grades, Italian leather in different grades and I’m sure others too.
Steve56
Forum GOD!
Interesting comments. When I did the Sub Cero edge longevity test, I did the linen as JJ describes, after the first 20-30 shaves, then a bit about every 10-15 shaves as the edge aged.
But this time, although I am doing about the same amount of linen, I’ve been doing much smaller amounts every shave to see if there’s a difference, 5-6 passes after each shave. I’m at shave 46 and the edge is holding up exceptionally well, so this scheme certainly is not hurting the edge longevity that I can tell. Of course the interesting part is after 60 shaves or so, almost any good quality razor can reach 60 on just fabric/leather.
As far as drying goes, if you don’t use fabric, a suede strop will do very well, both Kanoyama and Tony Miller make them I suppose a newspaper strop would dry the edge well too, but I have not tried it.
BlacknTan
Forum GOD!
I too have a good number of strops, in differently tanned leathers. From Neil Miller (RIP), Tony Miller, Kanayama, Scrupleworks, etc. They all have natural linen as a second component. The K was changed out to natural linen.
Personally, I would never strop on leather before linen first. But then, coticule edges perform best after linen. That said, I use it after all stones. BTW, I've also got a cotton bearing paper strop from Israel that works well, but, IMHO, denim is one of the best. Particularly with my firm thigh under it for a bit of support.
But, whatever works for each one of us..
Personally, I would never strop on leather before linen first. But then, coticule edges perform best after linen. That said, I use it after all stones. BTW, I've also got a cotton bearing paper strop from Israel that works well, but, IMHO, denim is one of the best. Particularly with my firm thigh under it for a bit of support.
But, whatever works for each one of us..
Twelvefret
Forum GOD!
Me too, Steve.
Grayswandir
Veteran
Any reason why you hand strop before fabric and leather, and not after, just curious Steve?
Steve56
Forum GOD!
I usually hand strop right after the shave because I know that my hands are clean. Do not hand strop after salty peanuts, fish and chips, etc!
Grayswandir
Veteran
That makes a hell of a lot of sense!