I find that I prefer using my SRD paddle over my SRD hanging latigo strop lately. I'm not sure why. I can sit down while stropping and relax a bit more. I use a bit slower stropping method and I don't have to worry about tension or cupping of the strop.
Anyone else prefer a paddle over a hanging strop?
Paddle Preference
I use a paddle strop all the time these days. A paddle strop needs to be flat and level above all else if it is to have an advantage over a hanging strop. My SRD paddle has a rough (inner side of the leather) side and a smooth side. The smooth side has developed a ridge across the paddle, where the glue hasn't worked out as it was supposed to do. This makes it unusable. I have three TI paddles, of which one has flat, uniform surfaces. This is the one that I use each day. Both sides of the paddle have the rough/inner side of the leather facing outwards. One is black and one is brown. The black side is softer, but has larger dermal pegs, whilst the brown side is harder with smaller dermal pegs. Currently, I use the black after a shave as an equivalent to the canvas side of a hanging strop, and the brown side comes into play before a shave. The other two TI paddles are imperfect in terms of flatness, evenness and so on. Very much a hit or miss proposition when it comes to buying one. So why bother? Because if you do get a good one it takes a lot of the variables out of stropping. With a paddle the only variable left that makes a difference is how hard you press. When you have a lot of razors, and want to explore the differences between steels, grinds, hones etc you need to make something consistent!
Chris
Chris
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
My stropping is done on strops laying flat on the countertop. Some are glued on wooden planks, others are repurposed hanging strops. As has been said, can be done sitting, no worries about tension, maybe it helps me pay closer attention to detail. I know some guys strop twice between shaves, once immediately after, and one just before shaving. I only do it once, usually the night before the morning shave.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Giammi, I feel the same way about using the strops while hanging, for that reason. Once I stopped doing it that way, I never looked back.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
- Blue As A Jewel
- Posts: 3834
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:14 am
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My SRD paddle works fine. I worry about warping though. I think a little convexing of the surface is ok. However, cupping into a concave surface is a disaster. The razor cannot reach the strop surface and will only ride on the edges. I wish they were built with a slightly rounded (convex) surface for that reason, especially for 3-inch wide models.
I don't own a padded paddle strop, but I suppose that would solve some of this.
I don't own a padded paddle strop, but I suppose that would solve some of this.
Here are some demo paddle strop videos:
My SRD 3" paddle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSHN8gyOTSA
My TI narrow paddle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrOTvF6oY1A
My SRD 3" paddle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSHN8gyOTSA
My TI narrow paddle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrOTvF6oY1A
Wooden paddles are sometimes prone to warping. Wood, like leather, both being natural materials will move over time. A maker can only do so much to use the best wood available, cut properly and dried properly but no telling what will happen down the road.
I always worried about my 3" wide maple paddles for just this reason. I checked everyone with a straight edge before shipping across many directions to be sure they were flat but I always worried they would move later.
No compalints so far though.
Tony
I always worried about my 3" wide maple paddles for just this reason. I checked everyone with a straight edge before shipping across many directions to be sure they were flat but I always worried they would move later.
No compalints so far though.
Tony
The Heirloom Razor Strop Co.
www.thewellshavedgentleman.com
www.thewellshavedgentleman.com