Preferred Strop Width

I'm riding the fence right now. Started on a 3" then got a Kanoyama. Yeah re-learning to strop with an X-stroke took a bit to feel comfortable with it, but now it's no big deal. Just like a lot of things with a SR it's muscle memory.
I am seeing my 3" start to cup just a tad at the bottom scale side of the strop. Does kind of suck...I'm losing about 2" at the bottom of the strop now. It's not a cheap knock off strop either.

So, I see the merits and draw backs to both. Not sure which way I'll go with my next purchase.

When it comes down to it it's just like everything else with this hobby/life style...personal choice/preference.

I have yet to shave with the straight I bought from Obie, or any straight ever, but I am getting closer. The razor is shave ready but I wanted to wait until I bought a strop before I used it. Last night I ordered the 3" red latigo strop from Straight Razor Designs.

Floyd Eye, I think you'll be happy with the SRD strop. I can't say enough good things about my English Bridle Leather strop from them.

There are a couple of comments in this thread about cupping on a 3" strop. My strop isn't sewn together. It is held together with fasteners that can be taken apart with a screw driver. If I had a cupping issue, I would take it apart, turn the strop around, put it back together and see if that helped. If not, I could try punching a new hole that would hopefully allow me to stretch the cupping to be flat.

Floyd Eye, I think you'll be happy with the SRD strop.  I can't say enough good things about my English Bridle Leather strop from them.

There are a couple of comments in this thread about cupping on a 3" strop.  My strop isn't sewn together.  It is held together with fasteners that can be taken apart with a screw driver.  If I had a cupping issue, I would take it apart, turn the strop around, put it back together and see if that helped.  If not, I could try punching a new hole that would hopefully allow me to stretch the cupping to be flat.

I just hope I can avoid screwing it up. I'll go real slow until I'm sure I got the hang of it.

Floyd Eye, are you new to stropping?  If so, you might consider a poor man's strop kit from Whipped Dog, which includes a $14 starter strop and a piece of balsa wood impregnated with abrasives.  The balsa was a life saver for me.

The replacement latigo strops are $35 from SRD,  so it may make sense to take your chances.

You hit the nail on the head by going slow while you learn.  Here is a video I did for learning to strop if you didn't see it the other day.  I think Lynn Abrams stropping videos really good.

https://youtu.be/pBoLXGupRtE

Floyd Eye, are you new to stropping?  If so, you might consider a poor man's strop kit from Whipped Dog, which includes a $14 starter strop and a piece of balsa wood impregnated with abrasives.  The balsa was a life saver for me.

The replacement latigo strops are $35 from SRD,  so it may make sense to take your chances.

You hit the nail on the head by going slow while you learn.  Here is a video I did for learning to strop if you didn't see it the other day.  I think Lynn Abrams stropping videos really good.

https://youtu.be/pBoLXGupRtE

Well I already have the strop so I think my best bet is to watch your video, take my time and plan to be one of the few that doesn't destroy my first strop while I am learning. :-)

You can do it! The key is slow. Where I ran into trouble was at the end of the pass, turning over razor on the spine, then already moving in the other direction

Well I used the straight for the first time this afternoon. I took my time and just did a with the grain pass on both cheeks then finished up with my Timeless. It will definitely take some time to get used to it. Especially the switching hands. It was nice though and a very close shave.

The stropping went very well I think. I went slow and had no problems. The razor is shave ready again. :-)

Awesome! you are off to a great start. I really agree with the process of starting with the cheeks. You'll get used to both hands more quickly than you think. Of course, if you find it isn't working for you then you can use one hand.

After a few seconds with my left hand I tried just doing it with my right hand. I didn't seem to be able to get the right angle without blocking my view. I am ambidextrous in some things, but not all. I bat and box left handed but can't write or play guitar left handed. So I wasn't completely uncomfortable using my left hand. I think I'll just take it slow and try to learn with both hands right from the beginning.

Thanks for all the tips and advice. :-)