Thread: need help choosing first strop

Hi all i purchased my first straight razor today a dovo 5/8 in stainless. Now i need to get a strop i have heard while learning to just get a cheap strop as i may nik it.
So my next question is i was looking at a jico strop on flea bay and a few others. Would they differ alot and would they do the job until i learn and gain a higher skill level.

all help would be great as this is a whole new world to me thx adam

Originally Posted by adaml

So my next question is i was looking at a jico strop on flea bay and a few others. Would they differ alot and would they do the job until i learn and gain a higher skill level.

I've personally never heard of jico strops; even though I'm totally addicted to this site, I still haven't been at this all that long, so the fact that I haven't heard of it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I would make a couple of other suggestions, though. Strops from SRD and Star Shaving both are assembled with screws so that you can buy replacement components if you nick it up too bad (as opposed to buying a whole new strop). Larry at whipped dog also sells strops, including his "poor man's strop kit" which comes with a small strop and a piece of pasted balsa for touching up your edge when it begins to dull. Illinois strops are another good option, as they can be found many places for pretty cheap.

I would definitely check out these options before buying one off the 'bay.

I got a 3" strop, the Big Daddy for Star Shaving and have yet to nick it. --beginner here also.

Originally Posted by Siguy

I got a 3" strop, the Big Daddy for Star Shaving and have yet to nick it. --beginner here also.

I have a chestnut big daddy also i think works great now i am doing i right and yes It is nicked a few times but it wasn't to expensive $53 delivered to central qld and I got a replacement leather also when the nephew ordered his ready to change out not long ago cheers D

Okay thx all for the advice

Just had a look at the big daddy it looks good. Just need to see the shipping to aus

I bought a no name strop from the bay for around $13 and I am glad I did because it has some nicks. I have never used a "good" strop, but this little cheapo seems to work fine.

FWIW, I actually have all three of the ones I suggested. I only use the whipped dog poor man strop for short trips out of town as it is pretty small and does not have a fabric component; I have found the pasted balsa to be very handy though. The Illinois was my first strop and still works pretty well, though I did nick it a bit. I bought the Big Daddy in black latigo because I wanted to try out a 3" strop, and I really like it. When I first got it, I thought it was a little "slick" and was worried that it wasn't working as well as the Illinois, but it has gotten better and better over the last couple of weeks as it gets broken in. Guys rave about the SRD strops, and I think that if/when I buy another one, it will probably be their english bridle.

That being said, I didn't notice that you live in Australia; you might consider jumping over to the Aussie forum to see if any of the other guys down there have more local suggestions that would save you a little shipping (perhaps more than a little). Still, I do enjoy my Big Daddy....as they say, YMMV!

I'd say if you want a hanging strop, there are lots to choose from on straight razor designs, classic edge, fendrihan, classic shaving etc. If you want a paddle strop get the modular paddle strop from straight razor designs...very good value.

How does it sharpen up?

I found the big daddy on ebay it is with in my budget