Strop

[alcx77]

Some time ago I purchaced a strop and paste and a Hoffritz ST8...since lost the razor but having discovered the DE world in 2001 and having enjoyed my RAD ever since I may one day replace the razor, aquire the
hones and dive in. Newbie question here- my strop has a leather strap
one one side and a canvas strap behind it. Is the canvas strap there simply to support the leather strop or does one turn the strop over to use
the canvas side with the razor?

[drmoss_ca]

Most people use the canvas and then the leather when stropping.

Chris

[Leighton]

I've come to the conclusion that the canvas side is essential for long term edge retention. While leather alone is great, leather + cloth = even better.

[matt321]

+1 It's like the canvas scrubs off the microscopic corrosion, and then the leather side realigns everything and adds a little polish.

[alcx77]

So canvas first then the leather- thanks for the information all.

[alcx77]

So canvas first then the leather- thanks for the information all.

[loueedacat1]

30 strokes canvas followed by 60 plus strokes leather is usually good.

[ichabod]

When I first started with a proper strop (linen and leather) I didn't really see what the linen side added to the edge, so I quit doing it for a while. Upon reading a post here I resumed the linen strokes, and noticed that the edge seemed to stay nice and sharp for longer, and have a better feel to it.

I usually do 25 or so linen and 50 or so leather each shave.

[alcx77]

Will this method work with a hi carbon GEM blade or only a ST8?

[ferroburak]

Will this method work with a hi carbon GEM blade or only a ST8?

It would be overkill with Gem blades as there is a risk of nicking the strop