Thread: New guy- question about strops

Does anyone know if the DOVO and Illinois strops on classicshaving.com are good strops? In general, what makes one strop better than the other?

Thanks alot for all your help

Hi Kevo,

I recently purchased this strop at Classic Shaving. I am new to stropping so I can't say I can compare this strop to any others. However, I feel one drawback to it, is that it is toonarrow, I would think that a wider strop, like so, would be better.

I would stay away from the narrow strop, the wider strops contact the whole blade width. It just seems to me to be a more uniform method than the narrow. Just my opinion. As far as brands go, I have a vintage(used) Illinois red russian that I truly love to strop with, but I doubt if the Dovo is any slouch.

Originally Posted by kevo

Does anyone know if the DOVO and Illinois strops on classicshaving.com are good strops? In general, what makes one strop better than the other?

I'm not a big fan of the linen on the new Illinois strops, but the DOVO strops are great. I've got the one linked a few comments above and really like it. The "standard" width for the vintage strops in the US is 2 1/2 inches, and that strop is only slightly narrower, not really enough to make a difference. Most paddle strops are even narrower than that after all. I tend to do an X pattern on the strop just like I do on the hone, so full length contact on the blade doesn't really matter as much.

Strops tend to use different linen and different leather, and some people have strong preferences in these matters. I tend to prefer low-draw leather like shell cordovan, and tend to prefer coarse linen like Dovo uses and some of the old vintage strops like the Sears Craftsman used.

A 127 Illinois is a fine strop. 23" X 2 1/2" Use an "X" pattern. The strop (even a good one) is secondary to technique. The best strop in the world will not work if your technique is not good.

Monte

I have the 3 1/2 dovo for my regular strop. It's very quick and there is
no x pattern needed. It gets the job done and I couldn't ask for another.
I have a TM paddle diamond pasted strop for when the cutting is not cutting but dragging & pulling which is every 3 months or so.

Originally Posted by shaverdude

Hi Kevo,

I recently purchased this strop at Classic Shaving. I am new to stropping so I can't say I can compare this strop to any others. However, I feel one drawback to it, is that it is toonarrow, I would think that a wider strop, like so, would be better.

Hey shaverdude, my advice would be to stick with the strop you have for awhile to really get comfortable with it. The very first strop I purchased was the Dovo Extra Wide and while the leather quality I thought was excellent, I found the wide width matched with the hanging ring that does not span the entire width of the strop meant the strop had a tendency to cup in a concave manner making for poor results. That of course was only my experience, but I prefer a 2 1/2" wide strop much better now. I had to slack the strop a considerable amount to avoid nicking the edges.

I actually had a similar problem with a TM red latigo travel strop since that only had a single grommet in the center. I found it was more prone to nicking the edges of the hanging end which I theororized was due to some cupping.

I now have a horsehide 2 1/2" that Kenrup made and the hanging D ring spans the entire width. I am able to pull the strop taught and don't have the nicking issues I did before.

The difficulties I experienced on the previous two strops could certainly have been due to my inexperience.

Chris L

Chris ...Give the 3 1/2 a chance again. I think you may have given up too soon. Only use the middle 12 inchs or so and you'll love it. No need to pull on the dovo be it 18 inch or 24 inch.

Pulling too hard will easily bow or cup a strop, even more so if it has a single point of attachment. It really does not take mch force t keep it taught under normal stropping pressure.

When I was learning I found I always nicked the lower edge too, directly on the side of the hand holding the razor and it was caused by too much pressure on that side.

Some leathers re far more prone to cupping than others a well. I rarely used natural tanned leather for my strops as it cups very easily towards the smooth skin side. Buffing the finish on that side to give it more draw (and o make it as porous as the back) helps but does not eliminate this. I have found the horsehide tends to lay quite flat for a natural leather and latigo, having the pores filled with waxes and oils does not seem as vairable as moisture does not penetrate it and cause the same tendancy to cup. They also help to make it have a sort of "plastic" state where it can be molded back to flat again but reverse flexing, side to side.

Technique is more important that the strop, the hone or the razor.

Tony

Originally Posted by Arora Borealis

I have the 3 1/2 dovo for my regular strop. It's very quick and there is
no x pattern needed. It gets the job done and I couldn't ask for another.
I have a TM paddle diamond pasted strop for when the cutting is not cutting but dragging & pulling which is every 3 months or so.

I sold it off to another member that I believe is having better luck with it that I did. I do assume it was my lack of technique. The horsehide is rockin for me so that's what counts.

Regarding cupping as I previously mentioned. In no way was I reaming on either strop or pulling really hard. Actually, on the Dovo and the TM travel I was pulling MUCH LESS than I do on the horsehide and they were cupping for me. I remember SRP member Gus (if I recall) saying he actually leans backward pulling the strop with the full weight of his body. I don't know if he was kidding or not, but I don't even come close to that.

Chris L

Chris L