Thread: Rethinking newbie strops

Shafs,
Mine, and the other fellows posts pretty much explain it. Two things were are debating, best strop and best way to start on a budget. Two different ideas, two different solutions.
The facts as I see them <g>.
#1 The best tool for daily stropping before each shave is a hanging strop. I think everyone here will agree on that. Second, average, top quality. All will get the job done and all will be more efficient than a smaller paddle.

#2 In a short amount of time after starting you will need to learn to sharpen. This is NOT what a hanging strop does so you will need to buy a second tool, (strop or hone) to continue. Most will say a pasted paddle is easiest to learn on. It will not fix an eBay find though, only a hone will do that. Ideally you will own each, hone and pasted paddle but guys here get by with both or on or the other of the two.

So, this settles the first question.....best tool for daily use, hanging strop, no question.

The other question is where should a newbie start. If you don'y mind having to buy another tool in a few weeks or a month start with the hanging strop. If you stil like shaving in a few weeks and SWMBO does not mind you buying more this is the wisest choice. If you are on a budget and want it all up front a pasted paddle covers both issues, stropping now, sharpening later. It is not as efficient as a hanging strop for daily use but will work fine as you learn. I do think being stiff it may be easier to keep your blade flat on when learning.

Once you understand the difference in tools the decision is up to you and your budget.

Best,
Tony

I'll chime in on this. I started with a paddle strop. Unpasted. It's still unpasted. And I still use it from time to time. I like it because it slows me down! I don't strop at the speed of light whether I use the paddle or a hanging strop, but the paddle requires more focus, and it gave me a complete understanding of the X pattern. I've discussed adding paste to my paddle strop, but have decided to order a pasted paddle strop from Tony for three reasons. First, I don't want to loose the ability to use the paddle without doing "touch up" (yes, I know I don't have to paste all 4 sides), second, I want to see the proper application of the pastes, and third, it gives me a travel strop or a strop I could loan to someone who wants to try using a straight razor.

Two things about Tony. I also purchased a "second" strop from him and couldn't be happier. He mentions his prices are in line with Dovo and Jemico. I disagree. His prices are much lower because with Tony, you get a hand made first quality item. It's like cheesecake. You can get one made from a mix, or one that is made from scratch and baked. I'll pay more for the baked anyday. We are fortunate that with Tony we don't have to do that. Also, when I first discussed with him about buying a pasted paddle, he told me that "to be honest, just add the paste yourself". A stand up guy!

RT

I was using a hanging strop for daily use until three months ago. I've been using a paddle daily since then. What RT says is true. It takes me about twice as long to strop each morning, but I sure do miss my hanging strop. It'll feel like christmas when I finally unpack it.

I'd say, a hanger for daily and a paddle, two or four sided, for refreshng the edge.

X

Gents !

When I begung shaving with a straight, I purchased a hanging strope and a paddle
strope (one side pasted).


The Paddle one I got for traveling, saving space and weight and
don't need to take my honing stone too..

Well even though I am still very new myself I have no regrets on getting a 2 sided paddle strop. I was on a low budget (still am) and I don't mind spending a few extra minutes on the paddle, plus I don't have a hone and I can use the pasted side every so often to help out the edge. I think it alows me some time before I have to invest $$ into another strop and also a stone.

Though I have 1 razor, strop, brush, but many soaps I am happy with what I have and fell I am getting a awesome shave.

i seem to be the black sheep here, and granted i've only been doing this for a little over a month, but i'll offer this:

if someone was asking for my advice, i'd tell them to get a hanging strop and a hone. that's all. a norton 4/8, a thirty dollar hanging strop, and a lot of patience are all i use, and i've matched the sharpness of the shave ready razor by honing my dovo on the norton.

keep in mind, i'm a minimalist; everything i own fits in my car, and i have an incredibly small car. all told, i spent 175 bucks, but i could've saved thirty dollars if i'd just gotten two used razors instead of one used (my shave ready) and one new (the dovo i learned to hone).

my advice would be initially to buy a pasted strop and a "2nd's hanging strop". for this is similar in price to a high end hanging strop. for new people they WILL dull the razor stroping. they will have a shave or 2 and by then the blade will need to be touched up due to the learning to strop. this strop learning doesn't take long, a couple times and you learn to go slower and be flattern and feel the blade against the leather. but it kills the first honed razor you get. they want to shave not spend weeks with a dull blade waiting to shave again once they ruin their honed bladed or destroy their faces with a dull razor.

i'd follow this up with a hone/whetstone. the learning curve for getting a razor honed properly is much longer then stroping and you need more expensive equipment when you get into a norton combo plus a finishing hone. on top of that you need some practice razors cuz you will not be good when you start. the margin of error on a stone hone is less forgiving also. you can't take your 1 good razor to your hone the first time you get it. :/ i personally have a norton combo and a 12k grit whetstone...and im scared to take my sent away honed razor to the whetstone becuase im not 100% confident using the stones but i KNOW i dulled the razor the first couple times stropping and it needs the touch up.

the important part for a new person is gettin them a sharp razor to use. to try this shaving without making them fork over 150$ in supplies just to try to shave more then 2 times. in that realm, i think a pasted paddle initially is very helpful for the initial longevity of the first honed razor they get. that will build interest and a love for it and that in itself will foster the need to sharpen/maintain/buy new equipment for the long voyage. this will lead to the best strop and some whetstones for serious work/maintance.

my 2cp.

~J

Originally Posted by jscott

new people they WILL dull the razor stroping.

~J

be careful about making universal statements like that. i've been stropping my shave-ready since i got it and it still shaves as close as ever. maybe the real issue here is how to encourage proper technique and care, instead of asking people to buy more equipment.

also, isn't the idea of getting people hooked on shaving a little sinister?

Originally Posted by cyrano138

also, isn't the idea of getting people hooked on shaving a little sinister?

Absolutley not. This is about liberating them!

X