Thread: 1st Strop

I just had my first straight shave today. Also my first strop.

I bought a poor man's strop, because I want to be able to use a hanging strop. However, I was advised to start with a paddle strop or at least to strop on a table at first.

So, I've mounted it to a board with silicon adhesive and 3 staples. I do agree this is a good way to start. But when I'm ready, I can remove it for hanging. I expect the silicon to be flexible enough too cause no issue.

Never tried it this way but I did read it was recommended. I just went for broke and learned how the use a hanging strop right off the bat. Good luck with it and hope your stropping turns out grand!

The man who adiced you to start with a paddle was a wise man indeed. I'm sure he advided you to turn the blade on it's spine as well
I think yust stapeling the strop at one end then puling it tight and stapeling it while holding the tension would have suficed. That silicone glue may affect the leather's elastic properties once you take the strop down and the glue may also be hard to remove...but for the moment and the time you will use it as a paddle strop it wil more then justify its price.

I wish you more smooth shaves in the time to come!

with a paddle or hard mounted strop, be careful of rolling the edge. This can be easier to do wuth too quick of razor flip at the beginning and end of a stroke

It sounds like a pretty good setup, but that silicone could be hard to get off the back of the strop without damage and like ovidiucotiga said it could hurt the leathers flexibility. But as most of us have learned we needed a new one anyway due to all the nicks and scratches from the learning process. Good luck to you in your shaving pleasure.

I may venture to say the staples would be enough. Also, a thin layer of that white foam used for packaging would be nice under the leather. It gives a bit of 'give' and makes a paddle work the very edge without torquing or any excessive pressure. JMO.

On my paddle or bench strops, I don't flip on the spine myself. I strop off lightly, flip in the air, and set it back down, spine first, as I begin a new stroke. Just me.

Done is done. If your leather is soft, it should work fine..