Thread: Strop advice for a newbie

Hi Everyone,
First of all let me say Thanks for being here, this website has helped me out immensely, such a great resource. Good Job To All !!

I have recently discovered the art of straight razor shaving, and am putting together my arsenal so to speak, I have purchased a couple of blades and am now in search of a strop. Would genuinely apprecitae any advice on the good, the bad, and the ugly on strops. What to look for and respectively what to avoid.

Thanks for the advice and again thanks for the great site!

Hi and welcome from a fellow newbie,

I have seen many members here recommend this starter strop from member Kenrup. I have read nothing but good things about this strop. I don't own one, but they do look very well made, and along with the strop, many members here say he's a great guy. For 20 bucks you can't go wrong, and while you are getting your technique down, it won't break the bank should you nick that strop, though it's so purdy, I'd be upset anyway. Before I was lucky enough to get a strop, I used a pair of jeans, with one leg of the jeans over a spare MDF shelf board. I made sure the jean material was really tight over the board, and that acted like the canvas side of a strop. Then I finished with a newspaper strop. Apparently the ink in newspaper has a very fine grit size and I actually like the edge so much off the newspaper, that I still use it a bit.
But, I'd definitely try the The Filly starter/newbie strop from Kenrup.
Happy straight shaving!



RupRazor - The Filly

Welcome to SRP. You will find reviews of most strops being used by SRP members in our reviews section: Strop Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums. As far as beginner strops are concerned, I would steer clear of expensive ones (the SRD strops being an exception, because you can buy replacement parts for them), as you will likely nick your first strop. Opinions on linen/webbing/... vary. Personally, I like good linen (such as the one on Tony Miller's strops), but it is not a requirement.

I'd recommend the Tony Miller practice strop. You will be dealing with the best. He answers question and provides a tremendous strop. Highly, highly recommended.

Lewis

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Welcome to SRP. You will find reviews of most strops being used by SRP members in our reviews section: Strop Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums. As far as beginner strops are concerned, I would steer clear of expensive ones (the SRD strops being an exception, because you can buy replacement parts for them), as you will likely nick your first strop. Opinions on linen/webbing/... vary. Personally, I like good linen (such as the one on Tony Miller's strops), but it is not a requirement.

+1 to all of the above. Welcome to SRP ! Here is a neat tutorial from the 1961 barber manual excerpt on stropping and honing. The stropping part is the last couple of pages and if you follow the instructions you'll be starting off on the right foot.

Thanks, I'll check out the links that old Barber manual is great

I definitely recommend starting with Ken Rup's (RupRazor.com) starter strop, the Filly. You can't go wrong. For $20 you get a brand new strop that does a perfectly good job. I still use my Filly periodically even though I now own more expensive strops.

Welcome to straight razors! The best place to get a strop is from Tony Miller here The Well Shaved Gentleman, Heirloom Razor Strop Company, Straight Razor Shaving Supplier - The Well Shaved Gentleman ~ Heirloom Razor Strop Co.. He has a practice strop and a starter strop. I got the 3" Red Latigo starter for my first one and am still using it! Tony's strops are the best!

Well now, we have something in common, I purchased the Red Latigo 3" myself as my first strop and love it. I also got the starter stop to practice first. Tony is a true artist and I would recommend his strops to anyone, novice or otherwise

Thanks all for great advice,

Knifeskills,

Well done for buying the practice strop !; After a week, my first strop looked like it had been in a 'slasher' movie

Best regards

Russ