Editing Razor Strops

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[[Image:Tony Miller Heirloom Traditional Artisan Strops.jpg|thumb|right|Tony Miller Heirloom "Traditional" Artisan hanging strop]] 

A razor strop is flexible strip of leather or canvas used to sharpen a thin blade such as a straight razor. [[Finishing Pastes|Fine powdered jeweler's rouge or other pastes]] can be [[Pasting a strop - a photo tutorial|added to the leather]] as an abrasive to polish the blade. 

Unlike [[Beginner's Guide to Honing|honing]] a blade, in which a whetstone removes metal bent out of alignment from the blade's edge, stropping the blade re-aligns the indentations without removing any material. 

The strop may be a hanging strip or a hand-held paddle.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razor_strop</ref>

==What is the strop used for?==
Stropping does not remove any metal from the razor.   With use, the extremely fine edge of any razor will become microscopically bent from cutting the coarse beard.  Today we have disposable razors that we simply throw away when the edge becomes dull.  With a straight razor the edge must be straightened, re-aligned and/or redefined after use.  Stropping is one the most important steps in keeping your razor shaving sharp.<ref>http://www.premiumknives.com/Old_Pages_Not_in_Use/Premium_Knives_help-Straight_Razor_Care.htm#What%20is%20the%20Strop%20used%20for?</ref> So, a strop serves three main purposes:
# removing oxidation on the edge of the razor
# drawing out the metal, thus restoring sharpness
# aligning the edge, thus providing smoothness

==What is the linen/cotton side of the strop used for?==
Some strops have linen or cotton backings.  These backing are used to heat the razor via friction to make the razor's edge more malleable and easier to strop.  The same technique used to strop a razor should be used on the linen or cotton side of the strop just prior to stropping.  If your strop does not have a canvas or linen backing you can accomplished this by running hot water over the razor blade prior to stropping.<ref>http://www.premiumknives.com/Old_Pages_Not_in_Use/Premium_Knives_help-Straight_Razor_Care.htm#What%20is%20the%20Linen/Cotton%20side%20of%20the%20Strop%20used%20for?</ref>

Rouge or paste should '''never''' be applied to the cotton or linen side of the strop.<ref>http://www.premiumknives.com/Old_Pages_Not_in_Use/Premium_Knives_help-Straight_Razor_Care.htm#What%20is%20the%20Linen/Cotton%20side%20of%20the%20Strop%20used%20for?</ref>


== Using a strop ==
Please refer to the article [[Razor stropping]] in the [[:Category:Stropping|stropping category]].

== Treating and repairing strops ==
Please refer to the article [[Strop_treatment_and_repair| strop treatment and repair]].

== Humour: Top 10 reasons why strops are better than hones<br>  ==

10. You can get a dull razor to shave with good stropping, but you can't hone a razor smooth enough to be able to shave 

9. You never hear anybody say "I over stropped again" 

8. You can always [[Pasting a strop - a photo tutorial|put paste on a strop]] 

7. You can send your razor out to be honed, but you can't send it out to be stropped 

6. You don't have to soak a strop in order for it to work 

5. You can't tie a hone up in the bathroom 

4. You can't snap a hone and make the kids clean their room. 

3. You can't get a cat to chase a dangling hone into a wall, but a strop does the job really well. 

2. You can't dry your back with a hone, but the linen side of a strop finally has a use now. 

1. A strop in the bedroom makes you look like a frisky stud, a hone in the bedroom makes you look like a woodworker.<ref>http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/strops/5183-strops-better-than-hones-top-10-a.html Originally posted by [http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/members/afdavis11.html AFDavis11]</ref> 

== References  ==

<references />
[[Category:Basic_Equipment]] [[Category:Stub]]
[[Category:Recommended_Equipment]]