Tony Miller 2 1/2" linen or 3" cotton. Any advice?

[JHP]

At the end of the June I added my name to the waiting list for a TM steerhide strop. Tony wrote, "I no longer have any 3" linen and it is unlikely I will be able to source it again. 2 1/2" is not a problem but my USA supplier will not be stocking 3" again."

This is my first real strop. I have a practice strop, but this will be my first full-fledged strop.

So, what do you think? Should I go with the 2 1/2" with the linen or 3" with the "firm, fine weave 100% Cotton". Who has had both? Would you sacrifice the extra half inch to get the linen? Opinions?

Thanks.

Josh

 

[jkh]

2-1/2" with linen would be my suggestion.

 

[Acmemfg]

Well if you want linen in a 3" width, Superior Shave sells a linen only strop in 3" for $23. Me?? That's what I would do............

 

[Loner16]

Natural linen is the way to go! I'm still sometimes amazed at how natural linen improves an edge before leather..

And, Neil Miller, in the UK still has 3" natural linen for his strops. I can recommend his strops highly, as parts, replacement linen and leather are always readily available.

http://www.strop-shop.co.uk/index.asp

 

[nimzotech]

First if you're going the Tony Miller route, I'd also strongly suggest you go with the 3" - much easier to strop. Second, I used both linen and cotton; both perform well. In other words, the extra inch of width will be more noticeable than the wool over cotton.

 

[Marco]

Josh, with the exception of a couple of practice stops (one Steerhide and one English Bridle) that have no second component, all the others I have from Tony are matched with Genuine Linen. It is SUPERB, hence my suggestion is to get the 2 1/2" Genuine Linen.

 

[JHP]

the extra inch of width will be more noticeable than the wool over cotton.

This is exactly the type of summary I was hoping to find. Thanks Chris. Seems as though Jeremy would go with the linen over the 3". Anyone else?

 

[JHP]

. . . all the others I have from Tony are matched with Genuine Linen. It is SUPERB, hence my suggestion is to get the 2 1/2" Genuine Linen.

Thanks Marco! I know you are a TM fan and I was hoping you would have an opinion.

 

[Marco]

Josh, what honing stones do you use? Also, do you use sharpening pastes/sprays/powders?

 

[jpcwon]

I too would spring for the 2-1/2" linen....Tony's linen is EXCELLENT....

 

[life2short1971]

2.5" is a great size but 2" is not 3" is almost overkill but still good.

 

[BDF]

I think the only [linen only] strop that S.S. sells is a 2", not 3" wide. The only 3" wide linen strops that S.S. sells are on the back of a Walkin' Horse strop, again to the best of my knowledge.

Brian

Well if you want linen in a 3" width, Superior Shave sells a linen only strop in 3" for $23. Me?? That's what I would do............

 

[JHP]

Josh, what honing stones do you use? Also, do you use sharpening pastes/sprays/powders?

Well . . . I don't hone . . . yet. Just started using a straight this morning. N-S on both left and right side sideburns, cheeks, and flat part of my neck only. Managed to use my weak-side hand too. It went very well. I'm pretty excited. I have a wipped dog for starters, but I have a Dovo Palisander ready for action.

Just took delivery on a coticule. Here is a link to it. I just posted a pic on the coticule love thread. Why do you ask? Any pearls of wisdom?!

 

[john shea]

I have a barber end TM 2.5 inch Latigo with real linen and a D-ring TM 2.5 inch Horsehide with NOS vintage linen. Both of these TM strops are very close to the width of my razors and give me no trouble stropping without using X-strokes. I have 3 inch bench strops and find no significant difference in stropping on a 2.5 inch vs a 3 inch strop. The craftsmanship of a TM strop is superb.

I use a Norton 8K and pasted paddle or bench strops for touch-ups and finishing. I use a TM 4 sided paddle strop with 3u, 1u, and 0.5u diamond paste, but could have made diamond pasted bench strops. I also use 3 x 12 inch homemade bench strops with CrOx or FeOx paste. My TM hanging strops are unpasted and I usually use them laying flat on the edge of my bathroom sink base counter for greater stropping control. I do much better at avoiding nicking of my strop and get a better result on my razor edge when I strop flat. Stropping is not as easy as it appears to be in the videos and must be done well before each razor use to maintain shave readiness.

HTH

 

[JHP]

I have a barber end TM 2.5 inch Latigo with real linen and a D-ring TM 2.5 inch Horsehide with NOS vintage linen. Both of these TM strops are very close to the width of my razors and give me no trouble stropping without using X-strokes. I have 3 inch bench strops and find no significant difference in stropping on a 2.5 inch vs a 3 inch strop. The craftsmanship of a TM strop is superb.

HTH

Great feedback. Thanks a million.

 

[Wid]

Even with a 3" strop a x stroke is still recommended. I've had both and find the 2.5" an easier strop to use.

 

[nimzotech]

I don't think anyone will disagree, Tony Miller strops are top notch. I also would argue that most think linen is a better material than cotton. Going on further, I don't think the edge will get straighter or the stropping better on one material vs the other. I heard of certain people even using an old seat-belt for stropping. All work as well. Like in shaving with a str8rzr, technique is more important than tool used for the job. I heard for beginners it is easier to start out stropping using very light pressure on a 3" strop vs 2.5" as to not to complicate the gently stropping motion with the X-pattern strokes. I find it easier for myself to work on the 3" strop, whilst leading with the heel. Just my $0.2 worth...

P.S. I would also add that the Tony Miller should not be the first strop one should get, as to prevent any accidental cuts to the leather while learning the stropping motions.

 

[MSstrahan]

Even with a 3" strop a x stroke is still recommended. I've had both and find the 2.5" an easier strop to use.

What would be a good first strop? I need one. Been using folded newspaper to practice. It actually seems to work ok.

 

[Kentos]

I am biased, but a 3" strop isn't any better than a 2.5", and I would much rather have a matched 2.5 TM strop with linen vs. a TM 3" with cotton. In the long run once you learn to strop with an x-stroke it will be as natural as a straight up and down stroke.

I guess you could ask Tony to make you a single component 3" leather strop, and a single linen 2.5 inch linen component, and hang them up side by side or something. I think it will add a little to the cost tho' but if I just HAD to have a 3" in Tony's creamy steerhide that is what I would do.

The benefits of linen are up for debate BTW, so who knows?

 

[Marco]

Josh, what honing stones do you use? Also, do you use sharpening pastes/sprays/powders?

Well . . . I don't hone . . . yet. Just started using a straight this morning. N-S on both left and right side sideburns, cheeks, and flat part of my neck only. Managed to use my weak-side hand too. It went very well. I'm pretty excited. I have a wipped dog for starters, but I have a Dovo Palisander ready for action.

Just took delivery on a coticule. Here is a link to it. I just posted a pic on the coticule love thread. Why do you ask? Any pearls of wisdom?!

The Coti Masters always suggest Linen. A good Linen/Leather stropping can greatly improve a Coticule edge and push the HHT up of 1 or 2 points. Also, many Coticule users like to shave straight off the stone, without any further paste, sray or powder and Linen is best suited to be used alone, as Tony suggests. Cotton can be used alone or pasted, but at least in my experience, a pasted strop is great after a synthetic progression. As always, just my 2 cents.