Thread: Need help with strops

I need help with strops... Do I only need a hanging strop (leather + linen) to strop my razor correctly or do I need some extra paddle strops? I also want to know if I have to apply some abrasive pasts or anything on linen side and if I have to, what?
Also, does anybody know where can I buy new razors, strops, etc. in Croatia?
As far as I know the only place where I can find this kind of stuff here is antiques fair...
Any help is appreciated...
Thanks...

You don't need anything more then a hanging strop. I personally wouldn't use paste on my strop if I only had one. A paddle or a loom strop with paste and or chrome ox would be nice to have as well but you don't absolutely need to have one. I don't know where your best bet for buying would be as I am in the USA. I am sure some of your neighbors will chime in shortly. Welcome to SRP!

Thanks for the welcome and for the tip...
I asked it because when I finally get my hands on str8, I would give it to honemaister to hone it for me on a machine... I won't do it myself until I get/buy proper honing gear and at least two old & rusty razors to learn on them...
So, I don't know if any additional stropping, besides the one on hanging strop, is required after razor is honed on machine...
Thanks again...

I completely agree with JimmyH-AD. I have been shaving with a str8 for over 30 years and have never even needed a strop with linen. Leather is sufficient.

I personally haven't even shaved with a straight razor YET (Tonight is the big night) but I have been reading around for a while.

The only reason you would need another strop other than the one you have is if you wanted to put pastes (diamond, cronium oxide, etc...) on them. The reason for doing that would be to "touch up" your razor to keep it sharper for longer thereby extending the time between honing sessions.

Like I said, I have no experience but I think that I am answering your question.

Unless they really know what they're doing, I wouldn't give my razor to someone to sharpen on a machine. You need someone who knows how to hone straight razors (not knives, etc) on a proper stone. You might want to look for services listed here in the classified section.

Jordan

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

You don't need anything more then a hanging strop. I personally wouldn't use paste on my strop if I only had one. A paddle or a loom strop with paste and or chrome ox would be nice to have as well but you don't absolutely need to have one. I don't know where your best bet for buying would be as I am in the USA. I am sure some of your neighbors will chime in shortly. Welcome to SRP!

Jimmy: Er, ah, I just noticed your new Avatar; who's ah, can is that, um, made up like a pumpkin?

Chris L

Ha! Yeah, nice bumkin!

my experience was that i didn't need anything more then a leather strop for quite a while especially since i wasn't doing a full shave at first because i was still practicing and getting to know my face. just be careful stropping. i think i may have rounded the edge on my first razor slightly because i wasn't careful enough when stropping. it isn't hard (and i'm no expert, but i can get a good shave) just remember to take it slow first and don't put pressure on it, and keep the strop tight. the speed will come. that was my problem i got a little better and got over confident and started flying then it was easy to put too much pressure.

also i have read some say you can get away (and this is later on) with a pasted strop for freshening up a razors edge and some that say a hone is better. i don't have enough experience to say either way but i do have a CrOx pasted strop and it does make a difference for fine polishing on the edge.

hope that helps atleast a little.

Well, I got my first straight razor a few days ago, which is quite old and a bit rusty and needs to be restored... So, I took the razor and a dishrag, made an improvised strop out of it (jammed it between closet doors) and "stroped" the razor for few minutes, keeping an eye on edge and spine... I did about 80 passes and it felt quite relaxing (for me, not for the razor )...
Next step is restoring and proper honing...
Will post my progress...