strop substitute equivalents??/ first partial shave down!

Well thanks to a generous member's donation, I was able to get my very first (partial) straight shave done today, and ......what a thrill! I can't tell you how great it felt for me to just hear that sound.....oh, that sound! The one I always anticipated when making a trip to the barber. The sound of the straight shaving off the hair. I love that sound. Good thing I don't have narcolepsy or something, because it's so relaxing at the barber's that I often drift off for a bit. With the razor in my own hand though, I was very much awake. And loved every second of it.....all of the 5 or so seconds it took, to do just one side. It wasn't the closest shave I have ever had, but it was certainly the most fun I have ever had shaving. ( I tend to hate it, because I always always get ingrown hairs. Always.)

Now, since I'm trying to do it "right", as per Lynn's advice ( I know, can you believe it? with all my enthusiasm about shaving this way, you'd think I would ignore sage advice and just go for the whole face. 12 hours later, I did do it "my way" a bit, by shaving a bit of the dominant side of my throat, but that is only because I am more comfortable shaving that area then say...my chin, where I tend to get the most ingrowns and end up breaking out. I'm still finishing up, with the dreaded mach 3. I'm seriously considering a DE as my finishing up tool, until I am proficient with the SE and honing them).

So now that I have had two partial shaves ( I did shave the side burn area one more time after I went for part of the throat area) and I have no hone or strop, I am wondering if I can shave with this razor again without stropping? The member who donated the blade was also kind enough to hone and strop it for me and instructed me that I need not strop it for my first shave. If it's not a good idea for me to keep shaving, what acts as a substitute for leather as a finisher? I have been advised that old jeans can act as the canvas side of a strop, but is there anything that acts as the leather side? Is that newspaper? Or is there something that is smoother that I can use until I can afford a strop?

I'd really like to keep at it, instead of taking a long break between shaves. Thanks in advance. And a great big thanks to Ben.

I think you're right on the newspaper. I've read elsewhere that folded up newspaper can be used as a strop. I've never tried it though as I purchased a strop when I started. I would advise buying a strop, Tony Miller makes some really nice ones and you can get a starter strop fairly cheap if I'm not mistaken. Also if you buy a strop from him you can get a starter strop added on for like $6 so you can practice on that one without worrying about nicking up the strop you purchased.

If you're the DIY type you could probably make your own.

It is possible to strop your razor on a newspaper. I've done so while travelling. My proper strop was in one city and my razor and I were in another It is also very easy to ruin a good edge if you are not sure what you are doing while you are trying to strop.

If I were you I would have tried to be patient. I would have ordered a strop from one of the reputable firms on this site. And read about stropping in the Wiki while I was waiting…


Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki


Good luck.

As you already know a strop is recommended, i have used in a "pinch"a newspaper,my belt,and a strip of denim jeans to get by.:)

You could also see the thread here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...ops-newbs.html

Looks like someone else asked about inexpensive strops. :)

You can also use your hand to strop it a little bit (like Mastro Livi does HERE). I do that occasionally, but until I get my CrOx to make a balsa strop, I have mostly been using newspaper. What I did was find a section that had a good bit of color/print on it and use that section to strop. Like was said, just take your time, and don't feel you need to strop FAST to do it right. :)

My Barber told me the best finishing strop around is your arm.

I can not attest to the veracity of this claim.

YMMV.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bevansmw

I think you're right on the newspaper. I've read elsewhere that folded up newspaper can be used as a strop. I've never tried it though as I purchased a strop when I started. I would advise buying a strop, Tony Miller makes some really nice ones and you can get a starter strop fairly cheap if I'm not mistaken. Also if you buy a strop from him you can get a starter strop added on for like $6 so you can practice on that one without worrying about nicking up the strop you purchased.

If you're the DIY type you could probably make your own.

---

Ahh, one day I'll get a Tony Miller strop. They look exquisite. Like a work of art.

You really need to find yourself a cheap starter strop. I no kenrup sells beginners strops as well as tony miller. Like i said start with a cheap strop. You will nick it. Its innevitable. You dont want to spend a lot of money only to jack it all up. My first strop was 15 dollars and it served its purpose for a while. Now it still comes in handy as i use it with the white tiers issard paste.

I have used newspaper and newspaper does work. While I was waiting to purchase the leather strop that I wanted I used newspaper and a yellow legal pad. I started out using newspaper but quickly changed over to using a yellow legal pad with a medium weight paper. One thing I did not like about the newspaper was I was not able to get the paper as flat as I liked and the paper moved on me. I found the legal pad to be more stable and the paper did not move when held in place. I also used CrOx on the legal pad to help maintain my razor when needed. After the layer of paper I was working on would get messed up, I would remove the top page or two and would have a nice flat surface again.

You are still much better off with a leather strop but while you wait, newspaper or a legal pad will work. Bench hones are also good to have in your arsenal. They are easy to make and can be made at little cost.

I started stropping on newspaper, then used levi's, then got a strop, now am getting nicer stuff.

From my experience, the newspaper is more of a touch up than a strop- in between. What I will say is it couldn't fully maintain a good edge. The levi's are better as a strop but same. I do however believe that the arm is fine. There have been a few weeks when I've travelled and couldn't take my strop (can't roll or fold it, and it won't fit nicely otherwise) and I stropped on my arm and it works. If I encounter a blade in my rotation that needs a touch up (usually I find this out mid shave) the forearm can limp me through the shave.

Why not always strop on your arm? Cus its a royal pain and there is a reason we have strops. Its the right tool for the job so you definitely need some sort of strip of leather. I have and use an Illinois Horsehide and it was crap at first (then I realised I needed to break it in) but once she broke in it was alright, and lately (through use) it broke in a lot more and I really like it. Just the previous owner doesn't seem to have liked it as much and I gave it a nick, so time to move on. I will probably keep it cus it strops well.

I have felt both Kenrup's leathers, latigo and horse, but only in what could be considered bench hone size, and from what I can tell is its good stuff. That said, the Filly is the cheapest strop around.

So there are (as I see it, there will be other opinions) two very good, cheap starting points. Illinois' (I think Glen speaks highly of the 827, and I can say I have had good results with my 127) and Kenrup's Filly.