Suede vs. Smooth: Choosing the Right Leather Strop for Your Blades

When it comes to sharpening and maintaining the edge of your blades, a leather strop is a valuable tool. But with leather strops available in both suede and smooth options, it can be difficult to know which is the better choice. In this guide, we'll explore the differences between suede and smooth leather strops and help you decide which is the best option for your blades.

First, it's important to understand that a common practice is to use suede in conjunction with compounds and smooth for plain stropping, but this is by no means universal. The decision to use suede or smooth is a combination of personal choice and the type of edge being sharpened.

For example, straight razors are traditionally stropped on a smooth leather. The grain side surface is perfect for the delicate, low angle edges found on straight razors. On the other hand, many carvers and knife sharpeners use suede strops. The nap of the suede holds onto compound well, allowing the strop to be loaded easily. The softer surface also provides a bit of rounding to the bevel as the suede compresses under the blade, which some find desirable.

On the other hand, those who don't use as much or any compound may prefer the smooth grain side leather. Sharpeners of woodworking tools such as chisels where a rounding of the bevel is not desirable, prefer smooth leather.

It's also worth noting that some leather strops have both suede and smooth options on the same strop. This allows you to use the suede side for loading the compound and the smooth side for plain stropping.

In conclusion, choosing the right leather strop for your blades is a matter of personal preference and the type of edge you're trying to achieve. Whether you choose suede or smooth, or a combination of both, a leather strop is a valuable tool for maintaining and refining the edge of your blades. Take some time to experiment with different strops and find the one that works best for you.