Thread: cheap strop

Seems I need a strop for sharpening up my razor. I already have a nice Dovo strop for everyday stropping, but I heard someone say that the quality of a pasting strop isn't really that important. I'm quite the animal lover, so I had preferred to get one of the Tony Miller vegan strops, but he said they tended not to be porous enough to use abrasives. Since that seems to be a dead end, used sounds like a good idea, for the ethics as well as the wallet.

I've never used Ebay, but here are some bids I was looking at. Good deal or scam? Any advice is appreciated!

NEW HIGH QUALITY 17IN LEATHER CANVAS RAZOR STROP STRAP - eBay (item 140251617787 end time Jul-24-08 13:42:16 PDT)

NEW 21" BARBER LEATHER CANVAS RAZOR STRAP STROP - eBay (item 190238284235 end time Jul-26-08 17:14:26 PDT)

NEW PROFESSIONAL 20 IN LEATHER BARBER RAZOR Strop Strap - eBay (item 140251617892 end time Jul-24-08 13:42:42 PDT)

I'm not sure if they will be any more pourous than a TM strop. You may have to just take a chance, which if your going to paste a hanging strop, is full of potential problems to begin with.

If your looking for cheap, consider a piece of balsa wood, or some other soft flat wood.

You can probably afford to try one of those strops too, only for a paste though.

I have a used, good condition Tony Miller strop that you can buy from me if you are interested! PM me as I live in Ramona Ca. not 40 minutes from San Diego, a trip that I make at least 3 times a week!

Davis,
I have heard of people pasting balsa wood. I assume this works just like a paddle strop? Any special procedures for using balsa, or just paste and go? I was leaning more towards a hanging strop because someone said it was more forgiving than a paddle strop or a stone. All I really know is that the razor seems to be going dull, and stropping on the bare leather doesn't seem to help anymore.

Its the same, paste and go. You would use a few more strokes though because the particles sit more flush with the surface. With a non-pourous strop especially, the particle sit on-top of the honing medium.

I would use a strop held flat on the surface of a table, assuming I had to use a strop.

For the finer grits like .5, either medium works well. Apply lightly and evenly.

How about pastes on a linen strop?

I bought one of the 20" ones that you linked to. The leather was very dry and had a 3" gash in it. The black 'leather' one was really vinyl or 'naugahyde'.

Originally Posted by kelbro

I bought one of the 20" ones that you linked to. The leather was very dry and had a 3" gash in it. The black 'leather' one was really vinyl or 'naugahyde'.

Kelbro,
Thanks a lot. I kind of expected a scam, so good to hear I was right. I decided after all to go with the balsa option. Should be cheaper and I've heard great things.

I saw a pretty good deal on a used Illinois strop over on the B&B forum. Probably won't last long at $14 shipped.