I am considering the many options for a new hanging strop. And the question that is going through my mind is do I really need a linen strop...or is a leather strop sufficient? I am inclined to think of my grandfathers...and I don't imagine either of them had a linen strop....and somehow the survived. Do you have a linen strop? Do you think it is particularly necessary? Is a leather strop sufficient? Yes or No?
Yes and No. Is the linen component necessary? Not as necessary as the leather. Some blades seem to respond to both the linen and leather treatment. Some blades can get by with a dozen laps on leather & shave. Post-honing, all my razors get there double-treatment before they touch my face. On a daily basis, most of my razors just get the leather.
The canvas or linen components work as a very mild abrasive. The leather side smooths the edge for comfortable shaving. Right off the hones, the blade can have microscopic burrs that would embed themselves in the smooth leather side so I always give each blade a good 40-50 laps on the cloth/canvas component before bring it to leather. If I haven't used a blade in some time, I'll give the razor the secondary cloth component treatment to eliminate any potential oxidation before it gets to the leather.
I do both lesther snd canvas. I don't know if it would be different. I read mostly from here (thanks HolyRollah).it made sense, so thats what i do.
I voted yes because my beginner strop has a linen part. I've seen others use both before shaving, and so I do the same.
Thanks for all your thoughts and observations. I read different things about the purpose of a linen strop. Some say its for the mild abrasive properties, some say its for removing debris and drying the edge. Others say its to warm up the edge. But I think leather will have the same warming property. I think back to my grandfathers and I can remember them having a leather strop but not a linen strop. If it is just for drying...then I think my current approach of wiping it with a damp facecloth to remove any residual soap, then tissue and then drying my blade/pivot with a hair dryer for 10 seconds will work fine and then 20 laps on leather.
I voted for linen for all of the above reasons. I have a strop with a vintage linen component, thank @Drygulch. Is it possible to live without linen? I'm sure but then it's possible to live with just one razor, soap and brush.
