Will I hate a 2" strop?

[ouch]

I have only used 2 1/2" and 3" strops, and feel that the 2 1/2 is probably the perfect size. I requires a slight x-pattern or stropping at a slight angle, but seems to be the best overall size. I understand the rationale for thinner stones, but will I hate a 2" strop?

 

[jkh]

I've got a 3", 2.75", 2.5", and 2". The 2.5" is bliss, pure bliss. The 2" is my least favorite of these sizes.

Then again, how will you ever know if you don't try?

 

[superbleu]

I just tried a 2inch strop that I got from LarryAndro for a PIF I'm going to set up soon.

Honestly I didn't like it very much. I found the x-stroke has to be more deliberate and is more pronounced than even compared with a 2.5" strop.
I was worrying too much about if the entire edge was getting equal treatment on the strop.

So to answer your question, yes you probably will.

 

[Thebigspendur]

The size is just a crutch. If you have good stropping technique the size is immaterial. Like using different size razors, If your shave technique is good you can get equally good shaves no matter the size or grind.

Preference is of course a different matter.

 

[superbleu]

The size is just a crutch. If you have good stropping technique the size is immaterial. Like using different size razors, If your shave technique is good you can get equally good shaves no matter the size or grind.

Preference is of course a different matter.

Haha, very true Nelson. Then I will say that I prefer a strop that is wider than 2".

 

[natchez]

The size is just a crutch. If you have good stropping technique the size is immaterial. Like using different size razors, If your shave technique is good you can get equally good shaves no matter the size or grind.

Preference is of course a different matter.

I also prefer 2.5", but it a preference. I have used from 1.5" (my little travel paddle) to 3" all successfully. Yes, a little more care is needed with a smaller width strop, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[sanfranciscian]

Definitely seems to be a ymmv, I started on a 2.5" strop and picked up a 2" about a few weeks later. so basically i have only stropped on a 2". i find it to be the only strop i can use now,I have tried different sizes as demos from friends but seem to be only comfortable with 2". probably what i am saying is it all comes down to what you learn with.

Ian

 

[huntmol]

After trying 2", 2.5", and 3", 2.5" is by far my favorite.

3" isn't conducive to a good x-stroke, in my opinion
2" is uncomfortable to use and requires way too much of an x-stroke, in my opinion
2.5" is PERFECT, in my opinion

 

[Tony Miller]

The market seems to demand a 3" which accounted for 75% of what I made over the years. When I started running a 2" model a year ago I was surprised at the demand and how many guys liked that size. Once you have a good stropping technique down a 2" is just fine.

My personal favorite was always a 2 1/2" and that is all I will make now.

That said in downsizing my personal life, I took the last of the horsehide I had on hand and made myself a horsehide/linen 2" strop with handles as I realised that is all anyone really needs.

Tony

 

[ouch]

Thanks for the input. It seems that it's easy to find a 3" or 2" strop. If I were producing them, I would cut that 5" of leather into two 2 1/2" strops. I have seen so many nice looking 3" strops that left me scratching my head, saying "Why 3"?"

 

[LarryAndro]

The market seems to demand a 3" which accounted for 75% of what I made over the years. When I started running a 2" model a year ago I was surprised at the demand and how many guys liked that size. Once you have a good stropping technique down a 2" is just fine. ...

I make my own personal strops, and prefer the 2 inch strop. But, I can see that many won't like the 2 inch strop best. As above, "once you have a good stropping technique..." it is fine.

The biggest reason why I like the 2 inch strop best is because it gives me the best feedback on what the blade is doing. With a 3 inch strop, by way of comparison, I have this odd fear that one section of the blade is being stropped more than another. So, even with a 3 inch, I X strop a lot, maybe 75% of the time. And, if I am going to X stroke, then it makes little difference to me if it is a 2" or 3".

 

[LarryAndro]

...When I started running a 2" model a year ago I was surprised at the demand and how many guys liked that size....

What was the reason given you by buyers for liking the 2" model?

 

[Luc]

The smallest I had was the 1.75" Dovo strop. It did the work perfectly but I felt that I was going more left to right or right to left than up/down...

I find my 2.5" to be large but not excellent for X pattern. I'm not sure I always have the tip of the razor stropped on each lap... A 2.25" would force me more. I find the 3" that I had was cupping to easily. Give the 2" a go and you should know...

 

[Antique Hoosier]

My Tony Miller 3" Latigo serves my needs so well and in tandam with a Miller 4 sided Paddle Strop, I've never ventured elsewhere.

 

[Tony Miller]

What was the reason given you by buyers for liking the 2" model?

Most never said why they wanted a 2" they just grabbed them up. I had wanted one for myself and a customer asked so I did a run. I honestly thought I would wind up selling one and keeping one and that would be it.
It was a bit of a gamble of funds as I made cutting dies for narrower caps and had to source narrower hardware. I just didn;t like the look of the 2" hardware hanging beyond the edges of the strop. I went narrower so the edges were all flush. The design worked out well though so it was worth the investment.

With the narrower width you can feel just what is going on and can be very sure the entire 2" is making good contact. the wider they get the harder thay are to keep flat. I know my 3" needs a little tweaking from time to time to keep it laying correctly.

2 1/2" is probably the best compromise as it takes very little x to cover the blade and is more resistant to cupping if made well than a 3". I do think a 2" needs to be a bit shorter though as the narrower width seems a bit more prone to side to side sway when stropping. Just my personal opinion though and a tighter pull would probably eliminate that.

Tony

 

[Blue_2]

I use a TM (kit) four sided paddle strop and 2" TM Latigo or 2" TM Horsehide mostly these days. I just like the draw on those strops and my X-stroke is pretty well established.

I still have a couple of 3" strops from various manufacturers, but they don't much play time lately.

 

[honed]

My workhorse Neil Miller Buffalo is 2.5" & really good size.
But I have a Ken Rup 2" & a vintage 2".
I like the 2" a lot actually"
If you're technique is right, 2" isn't to be hated, but appreciated, it's old school for crissake

 

[Legion]

I like the 2.5" because it make me do just a little bit of an X pattern. That way I know my whole edge has visited Mr Strop at some point.

 

[ambrose]

I like both 2 and 2.5, the 2 feels alot more precise but a 2.5 is alot more fun.

 

[Will P.C.]

I dislike the 3 inch strops. I like to do a precise x stoke versus the modified X stroke on the 3 inch.

2 inch strops are fun to use