Thread: Embarrassed to ask but...

I just got most of my kit from SRD to get started and find I'm asking myself what feels like some pretty stupid questions, but you guys have been supportive so far so...

I got the 3" latigo strop (which is a beautiful piece of equipment). It has a very small hook with a circular ring on the end. How the heck does anyone attach this to their towel bar? The hook is so small I can't get it around my built in closet bar which is about the width of a pencil. Do I have to buy a hook to screw into the wall to put the ring around or do most of you tie your strops to towel bars, etc. with some kind of string?

From what I understand, it's important to attach it to something so that it can hang straight because if there is any twisting to the strop the blade may not touch it evenly across the surface--is that correct?

I'm excited to get started and I think I'm going to play with lather tonight and shave with my cartridge razor. I can wait till the weekend when I have more time for the first go with the str8.

I use wire around the doorknob, a zip tie would also work.

I put the hook on my belt loop (if I have one) and hold the handle away from myself. But this can be awkward depending on the length of your strop.

Use a good secure quality hook, preferably latching into a wall stud. You don't want the strop lifting off the hook or pulling out of the wall.

String is popular too.

I wouldn't attach it to a towel rack, but that might just be me. I put towels on my towel rack.

I have my strops on a hook on the back of the bathroom door. This holds them at a good height for me and keeps them out of reach of the cats!

Instead of wire, I use some of these: Tame cables and cords with Strapeez available at: TOM BIHN. Best laptop bags in the world, by the way. Similar velcro straps can be had in every hardware store for little money.

If you want to get a really rustic look, you can use a piece of leather thong or leather shoe lace to tie it to the hook or towel bar.

I use an S hook for all my strops. The only problem with an S hook is convincing my wife that they are for my strops and not for storage of her stuff.

I use a zip tie, A.K.A. cable tie around a door knob. Like many things in wet shaving the height at which you hang your strop is a matter of personal preference. For me a towel rack would be too high. For my height a door knob leaves the strop at the same approximate height that a professional barber would hang his strop from IME. I figure that is a good thing and it works well for me.

Actual razor strop hooks can be had here.
SailBoatStuff Marine Hooks - Snap, Gooseneck Hooks, etc.