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

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? NOPE. Hard wool felt, rough leather, diamond sprays, pastes, crayons (CRAYONS!)... I am completely overwhelmed by all of this, so this post is me throwing up my hands and again begging for advice.

OF COURSE, I AM FULLY AWARE THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE GET DIFFERENT RESULTS FROM DIFFERENT TOOLS AND DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND ULTIMATELY WILL USE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM. (I've always felt that one of the privileges of being a man is that it can be scientifically proven that one particular item or technique gives the best result but, as a man, you can be a stubborn jackass and do whatever the heck you want, regardless, just because that's the way you want to do it.)

But all this comes down to two questions:

1) What kind of results or specific purpose will the different tools/techniques give? If there's a resource for this, I haven't come across it. I'm thinking about linen, leather, hard wool felt, paste, diamond spray, CRAYONS... (And I'll bet there's more I haven't even mentioned!)

2) I want a paddle strop and have found one with leather on one side and hard wool felt on the other: is that all I need or will the hard wool felt have to be sprayed or pasted? Otherwise, is there a single product I can pick up that gives me everything I need but doesn't need sprays or pastes or crayons?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Derek,

You needn't despair. You are simply trying to process too much information. The result? You are making what is essentially a simple decision into a very complex one.

Entering the world of straight razor shaving is pretty easy. At its basics you need a razor and a strop. There may be some sort of science associated with this, but I prefer to see it as more of an art than a science.

If you purchase your razor from a vendor who offers a professional honing of your razor before purchase, all you will need is a strop of your choice. Since your preference is a paddle strop, why not get an SRD Paddle strop? It will provide you with all of the choices in strop material that are causing you so much angst. Then you can try out different materials and discover which one you prefer. From my experience, all you need in the beginning is a strop with fabric and leather to maintain the blade of your razor. The differences that you are scratching your head about are more personal preferences than anything else imho.

Finally, forget the pastes and sprays for now. Those are items that you won't need in the beginning anyway. Focus on learning proper stropping and shaving technique.

Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps you in someway.

If you want a strop for stropping, get something you like and that works. I have a number of SRD strops, and would recommend both the Premium I and IV (long) without reservations. Check the strop review forum for details. The webbing works better for me than the linen.

Felt, and paddle strops, are used for sharpening, along with pastes and sprays. Read all you need to know in What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki. I have reviewed both the felt strop and the modular paddle too.

Regards,
Robin

+1 on what jhenry had to say. All you need to get started is just a basic leather strop; forget about all the sprays and pastes for now. The next step will be honing, and for that you can get by with a Norton 4/8 combo.

Don't sweat it, before you know it, you'll want it all... and money will be no object.
In just four short months, somehow I've managed to accumulate 6 vintage straights, 4 leather strops, 5 new after-shaves, 6 different creams/soaps, various pre and post shave products and about $500 worth of hones.
:overkill:

But WTH... I've never had so much fun shaving!
:gl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jhenry

Since your preference is a paddle strop, why not get an SRD Paddle strop? [...]
Finally, forget the pastes and sprays for now. Those are items that you won't need in the beginning anyway.

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Fully agreed as far as the SRD paddle is concerned. Here is my review of the product: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ar-paddle.html - I've been using it with Cerium oxide on the rough leather and diamond spray on the felt with good results. The performance of the Premium I leather has been described in the reviews of the corresponding strop. It is very good. The size of the paddle makes it a viable alternative to a hanging strop, too.

As far as pastes are concerned, I would get the modular paddle with CrO paste and diamond spray for the enclosed felt pads, and use the rough leather instead of linen or webbed fabric. This should do nicely, and will allow you to maintain the razor for a long time without re-honing, if you use the paste or spray sensibly.

Regards,
Robin

IME when you start getting into straight razors and you're chasing a more perfect edge you'll begin to experiment with different mediums to get there. It is part of the fun of straight razor shaving. I have a daily driver unpasted leather/linen/webbed fabric strop but I also have the hard felt, nylon shoulder harness, balsa and loom and paddle strops with various pastes, sprays etcetera. Variety is the spice of life. :y

Are the diamond sprays and pastes used for everyday, pre-shave stropping; or are they more for between-hone touch-ups?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

If you want a strop for stropping, get something you like and that works. I have a number of SRD strops, and would recommend both the Premium I and IV (long) without reservations. Check the strop review forum for details. The webbing works better for me than the linen.

Felt, and paddle strops, are used for sharpening, along with pastes and sprays. Read all you need to know in What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki. I have reviewed both the felt strop and the modular paddle too.

Regards,
Robin

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I'm with Master Robin on this one... Any strop recommendations I give nowadays ALWAYS go to SRD. I absolutely love the Bridle (extra long) and the Premium I. Love 'em.

However, if you prefer paddles, the SRD Paddle is great for starting and for traveling... However, if you want what is, by and far, my favorite paddle of ALL TIME. Get the SRD Modular Paddle, and toss out an extra 25 dollars to get the Bridle pad with it... That way, the modular paddle will come with Diamond spray (for when you need it) two felt pads (IMO one for spraying, one for keeping clean) a Premium I pad (finishing pad) A Premium IV (Bridle, for quick stropping with deluxe leather :D ) and the Scrub leather (Prestrop)

The paddle is 3'' wide... Perfect for beginners and vets. And it's longer than most paddles, so it's perfectly portable, but very very efficient.

I cannot commend SRD strops enough, and the Mod. Paddle is just magnificent

Good Luck!

Cheers,
Jeremy

Quote:

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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....

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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).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

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

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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!

Quote:

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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!

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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.