Thread: Strop break-in: dumb it down please!

Hi all, post #1 brand spankin' newbie here. I really need some Pre-preschool info on breaking in some hanging stropes I have. I picked up 3 of the extra-wide Dovo hanging stropes from Classic Shaving, strope conditioner, red, and green paste, and I already had a nice flat piece of pumice. The stropes are a soft light tan on one side, and a harder dark finish on the other. OK... here's the "dumb-it-down part". Are both sides "stropable" since it is a one piece strop, and does not have a linen component? If not (red-in-the-face feeling dumb) which side do I use?? Also, any tips/tricks on breaking them in would be welcome.

Somewhat in my own defense, I did purchase the Lynn Abrams DVD and followed every bouncing ball, and found it all extremely helpful. However, on this one, it just started a few steps up the stairs from where I'm standing. Also, I did get 2 of the double-sided extra-wide FI paddle stropes, and all 4 diamond pastes. I'm sort of hedging my bets and going to try them all to see which one I like the best.

OK, I realize that's sort of many questions, and a tall order, so I thank you all in advance for tackling any part of this.

Welcome to the forum, from another Newb.

Hello & welcome!
The light side of the Dovo strop is the one you're after. I expect that the other could be used too, with proper treatment, but it's not the side they would have envisaged you using.
Have a look at the wiki.
Strop treatment and repair - Straight Razor Place Wiki
It's got the info you need.
I know very little about the paddles i'm afraid, but i do know that some guys find that the finest diamond, 0.25 is it, can get the edge too sharp to give a comportable shave.
Have a great time learning !

Thanks for the welcome, and the replies. I'm set up for honing with The Stone Pond and several wet stones from Lee Valley Tools and am quite comfortable with that, but the stropes had me second guessing myslef. I've been using a Feather up to now and picked up a "lot" of 6 straight razors (in what I've learned from Lynn's DVD to be quite decent shape) with the idea of using them for practice and training on my techniques, plus testing on the different products out there before investing on a couple of "good" razors. I figure a tradesman can't do his mantenence or repairs without the tools of the trade plus some skill in using them, so that's basically my mindset on graduating from the Feather to a traditional straight razor.

Hopefully my thinking matches up with "the real world", but I guess I won't know for sure until I try (& try again...)

Just be careful with the slection on hone grit from Lee Valley, as MOST of their products are geared towards chisel/knife sharpening, not razors. But I do believe they carry Norton 4k/8k stones. What did you buy from Lee Valley?

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Hello & welcome!
The light side of the Dovo strop is the one you're after. I expect that the other could be used too, with proper treatment, but it's not the side they would have envisaged you using.
Have a look at the wiki.
Strop treatment and repair - Straight Razor Place Wiki
It's got the info you need.
I know very little about the paddles i'm afraid, but i do know that some guys find that the finest diamond, 0.25 is it, can get the edge too sharp to give a comportable shave.
Have a great time learning !

Thanks! Learned a new word today!

Originally Posted by JMS

Thanks! Learned a new word today!

!!!!!

!!!!!

ok, here some more !!!!!

Welcome Scoundrel

From Lee Valley I have the single Norton stones in 1000, 4000, and 8000 grits. I do have other stones from them for my carpentry tools, and knives, but I picked these up exclusively for razors. I went with the singles instead of the combination stones out of convenience/laziness in that the Stone Pond will hold 2 stones side by side, so I can set up the combination I wish to use and not need to flip back and forth. Something I started with my tool and knife sharpening and decided to continue the method I was familiar with. Thanks for the heads up on the stones though, very much appreciated whenever anything is pointed out and passed on.

I've found that a good quality strop does not need any break-in. In the old days when I started I used to use a rolling pin but I don't think it was ever necessary. As far as using both sides. There are some strops that are two sided and both sides can be used however most are not. If its one of the two sided varieties both sides will be smooth. If one is really rough it not designed to be used.