Thread: Waving the White Flag: For What Purposes Are All These Different Strop Materials?

Originally Posted by DerekW

I'd told myself I'd treat myself to my first straight razor after my first bloodless shave with my shavette: I have finally reached this goal and have selected a razor based on the generous guidance provided here.

After I delibrated what kind of razor I wanted, I figured getting a strop would be easy: ya just need linen and leather, right?

...snip....

Exactly you just need linen(fabric) and leather for shaving.

And yes you will want to try other stuff.
Need is not equal to want.

I think my next strop will be one of the SRD strops
with a replacement fabric or two so I can switch
from daily shaving (clean canvas) to honing and
experimental modes (CrOx/ Diamond dust).

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

They are not, as the Wiki article to which I linked earlier would have told you.

Oops, would have if I'd read it: sorry, my mind has been so blown out by the stropping that the honing may have to wait until next year.

You can strop on a paddle strop for daily stropping as well. It's not what the majority of people do, but it works rather well.
It doesn't matter all that much which exact combination you would pick too, but you may find it useful to discuss it with the vendor, most of them are quite knowledgeable about their products.

I think if you get a hanging strop you will almost certainly nick it. You may feel quite badly cutting a $80+ strop. And you might end up cutting it badly, as some have done.

You might try KenRup's Filly Strop, which will cost $20 shipped -- about as much as ordering out pizza. Ken pastes the back for weekly touchups.

Then, if you are sticking with straights, and have developed some stropping skills, go ahead and buy a fancier strop. Keep the filly for travel.

Can't comment about the modular paddle strop, as I don't have it.

You've got some excellent advice here, so good luck!

The only thing I will add is that if you go for the Filly, you'll spend $20 on that and then another $80 to get your good strop once you've learnt what you're doing.

If you go for one of the SRD strops, which are modular, you'll spend $80 now and then another $20 for a replacement leather section, but only if you irreparable slice the strop. Plus you'll have a great strop right from the start.

Nothing against the Filly here, but that just seems like a better way to go to me. Totally up to you of course, and good luck for whichever route you go down!

Originally Posted by Stubear

You've got some excellent advice here, so good luck!

The only thing I will add is that if you go for the Filly, you'll spend $20 on that and then another $80 to get your good strop once you've learnt what you're doing.

If you go for one of the SRD strops, which are modular, you'll spend $80 now and then another $20 for a replacement leather section, but only if you irreparable slice the strop. Plus you'll have a great strop right from the start.

Nothing against the Filly here, but that just seems like a better way to go to me. Totally up to you of course, and good luck for whichever route you go down!

Good point about getting an extra / replacement SRD strop.

However, the least expensive strop replacement is about $30 shipped, not $20. That's for the 2" latigo strop replacement. If you want a 3" replacement SRD strop, those start at around $40 shipped.