Thread: Thoughts on make-shift strops.

BKrachmer - Thanks!

I think seeing those pics of my blade really made it sink in to me.

We are accustomed to things in which our sense of touch is good enough. It's hard to imagine scrapes so small you can't even see them taking a blade from shave-ready to butterknife-dull in 30 strokes.

But when I actually witnessed my blade go through that progression, it's kind of hard to deny. And when I saw micro images of my blade with an edge like a saw, well, the evidence keeps piling up.

For me, that was the hurdle. I didn't think leather that felt so smooth could actually be so abrasive to a razor's edge. I'm sure my heavy-handed stropping didn't help a whole lot, but even as my stropping improved as I practised before sending it to be honed, the blade just seemed to get duller and duller. They say stropping isn't rocket science, but in that moment, I just couldn't figure out what the hell I was doing wrong! Maybe I should try it on my head?

It is true that a poor workman always blames his tools, but a naive workman can sometimes wind up with his tools to blame. Hopefully someone else can avoid the heartbreak of having to send away their razor so quickly after getting it.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

Unfortunately due to where I live, just the cost of getting it here and the exchange rate would more than double price.

No friends or relatives travelling to Europe or the US?

Not in NZ who would be making a round trip, no. But lots of folks in the US and Europe, seeing as I'm from the US and spent quite a while in Europe.

But to be honest, most of them have been hit really hard by the recession and don't seem to be recovering very quickly. Many of my friends are quirky folks who didn't have much of a nest egg to rely on. Several of them are actually moving to what they hope will be a more prosperous place. I'd feel pretty rotten even asking them to pay the shipping, which would be almost as much as the strop - and if I pay it, it's the same problem all over.

I don't really like to ask people for things, especially since times are so tough. I feel awkward about even accepting offered generosity. Fortunately I seem to be doing ok with the karmatic universe - or perhaps that's my cue to give more myself - and I run in to a lot of generosity. Lucky me.

Shipping anywhere to, or from, NZ, is damn expensive, even for something relatively small. It's frustrating, me being such a center-of-it-all type of person. I like big cities, and being connected to everything. Being out here isn't very conducive to that.

Originally Posted by Toplin

i'm a beginner and I got ken rup's filly strop and I recommend it. I do have a question about the rough side with the green paste. How often should i use that side, and is it equvalent to an 8k, 12k stone? Or am I thinking about all this wrong?

If you're wondering about grit and micron sizes, here is a useful little file that was floating around a while back.

It is a useful comparison of grit size to micron size and shows where a lot of the stones sit in comparison to each other. Do bear in mind that the grit sizes given for the natural stones are approximate.

To answer your specific question, chromium oxide is about the same grit as a 30k Shapton stone. So its a very fine final polish, or a very light touch up. ShavedZombie gave great advice on how to use it.

Good luck!

I bought several new belts from our local gigantic flea market. They all said genuine leather on the inside. I got them for five dollars each. I got one wet and it disentigrated. When I inspected it the thing was made out of ground up leather and something else pressed into a belt blank. The something else is probably what tore up your razor. The other two belts started rolling on the edges and didn't last long. It may be genuine leather but it is not solid leather. For what it is worth. I am sorry that had to happen to you. Any one of us could have done the same thing.

Mackie - Interesting you say that. I won't be soaking the belt, as I plan to make it available again to other broke people, ha ha. But really, I wouldn't be surprised. I just don't know!

I could be the manufacturing, how it was shipped, how it was worn, how it was stored... who the hell knows.

But I didn't know they could pulp and reconstitute leather like bad orange juice.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

But I didn't know they could pulp and reconstitute leather like bad orange juice.

That's how Ford and GM make cars. Duh. Gosh how could you not know about reconstituted pulp manufacture?

I'm glad you posted this. I've been wondering for a while about this. Thanks for the post. I'll stop wondering now.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

ShavedZombie - Actually, my full name is Cassiopaea.

Onimaru was ever so kind as to offer me a strop of his, one he thinks will suit my wandering ways. I cannot thank him enough for all of his help and generosity. Ditto to Ms. Lilith Parker. Sorry I couldn't give the Wapi a better entrance!

Thanks guys, I hope someone finds this helpful. To be cheap is one thing, but to be cheap and wise is another!

What a beautiful name. What are its origins?

Originally Posted by Alembic

What a beautiful name. What are its origins?

I recall another thread about Pre-shave treatment, the topic got to Olive oil, Cassiopeia, correct me if I'm wrong, but you said you were Mediterranean?