The difference a new strop can make

[criswilson10]

Or more likely, the difference a new strop made in my stropping technique.

I have been learning on the 2" wide Dovo hanging strops for the past few months. Whacked one in half, nicked up the other one pretty bad. I promised myself that I wouldn't buy a nicer strop until I went a month without nicking the Dovo one.

Finally ordered a 3" wide SRD hanging strop late last Friday night. It was waiting on my doorstop Monday afternoon. Awesome turn around time.

Obviously I stropped with it last night and started shaving. It was one of my best shaves in 3 months. Very smooth with a just a touch of razor burn in one small spot.
While I would like to say it was all because of an SRD strop, I think the biggest improvement was because I had to change my stropping motion for the wider strop. This made the toe of the razor considerably smoother than with the 2" strop. I thought I was stropping correctly before, obviously I wasn't giving the toe enough love.

So from one noob to the others, the experienced members are correct - stropping correctly is the most important thing to learn and how well you do it greatly affects your shave results

P.S. That SRD premium strop is really nice.

[Formel1]

Yes, they can work wonders...picked up a kangaroo from SRD a few years ago...it's like butter...

[coryschmidt]

I've been considering the SRD modular paddle strop for a few months now. That may have just put me over the edge. My wife thanks you.

[quicksilver]

I guess my experience has been different. Because over time, my strop has been getting better. As long as you're not nicking the leather, if you rub the palm of your hand on it everytime before stropping, eventually the leather will condition into a nice surface perfect for stropping. I've been doing this to my SRD premium strop for the last 2 years and it's perfect.

[coryschmidt]

What did you use to clean it?

[entropy1049]

I have a Kanayama 90K that I only use when feeling relaxed, focused, and not under the influence of my morning Cuppa Joe...so, like once.

BUT! The SRD Premium IV strop is my daily go-to strop. I can't say enough good things about it. SO MUCH bang for the buck!

[edhewitt]

Well maybe its the roo, my homemade roo strop does me really well, perhaps its my gained exprience that has helped

[criswilson10]

Experience is definitely a plus. My bench strop for wood chisels is almost 10 years old and it sees a lot of use. When I first started wood work I slashed and nick quite a few of them. It has taken me about 3 months to adjust to the hanging strop technique. I know that I could have stayed with the bench strop, but I chose to learn the hanging strop.

[Siguy]

This has been the report of so many an SRD buyer.

Which Premium did you get?

[criswilson10]

I bought the Premium 1 strop with the fabric webbing.
I will probably buy the bridle leather one later this year and then maybe the red latigo and then ....