Thread: Question About My Strop

there's no need to strop until the next time you shave.

Post shave: some people do, just to dry the edge, I dont find it necessary if Ive already dried it with a towel.

Originally Posted by hults

i recieved an illinois 827 strop today.

the rough side of the leather faces out, while the finished side (lighter tan and ribbed in the photos above) is on the inside.

does anyone have experience with these? my 127's have the smooth side out, which is what i had expected.

Hults, that's just a charachteristic of the "russian" part of the process. Anytime you see "russian" leather, that doesn't mean it came from russia: it's just the term given for when the rough side is compressed by pressure from the smooth side. It gives a draggier feel often, and can work quite well. I believe that the 827 is Gssixguns everyday strop.

sometimes the smoothside is imprinted with a ||||||||||||||||| pattern like yours has, sometimes its an XXXXXXXXX pattern.

One thing i just noticed was that the two belts aren't parallel. I mean when I hold the handle and pull with the two together (leather and canvass), the belt buckles.

Is this a problem?

These strops take about a week of use to really break in, both the leather and the linen will break in after use....
The rougher stropping surface gives really great feed back while stropping...

I always recommend 25 linen and 50 leather pre-shave... Post shave stropping is a personal thing some do some don't....

The handles being slightly uneven really makes no difference, if it bugs you just hold a single handle and let the other drop...

You strop on the rough side with Russian strops. I use one side of the linen when I strop my razor (everyday) and the other I coated with diamond spray to touch ups. I have had great performace out of this strop. I think that others have had the same experience. Congratulations, nice strop.

Al raz.

Thanks guys! Great advice as always.

I got one more question about this strop though. Upon close examination I notice nicks and a tear in the leather.



^The tear is deeper and a bit more pronounced in life than the picture shows. It's also rough in that area, and it doesn't show in the picture too well. It looks like it was damaged there. The rest of the strop is smooth. Is this going to be a problem running my blade across?

I am sure that after you use it a couple of times, these would be nothing... ;-) By the way, there is a good thread about stropping technique (flipping the razor or similar). I would strongly recommend that you read it for proper stropping technique. Very often bad stropping technique can lead to dulling the edge of your razors. Keep the strop tight in your hand. It is very important that you do not strop flipping the edge but rather the spine. Also keep the blade flat and do not apply excessive pressure.

Al raz.

Roll the leather between your fingers where the damage is, if it is a cut or tear, return it and get another...... These should last a lifetime and there is no sense in having one start with damage....

It's a bit deeper than the picture shows, and around the area it looks like it was damaged

Anyone dealt with that company before? Do I have to pay for shipping?