Thread: new guy

brutally,

Try RupRazor. He has a cheap ($22.00) entry level strop.

RupRazor - The Filly

I have the Big Daddy 3 inch in chestnut strop and it works well so far ! Then again I'm fairly new to this straight shaving as well !

Leather Hanging Strops

I found their prices reasonable and I can easily replace the wool/canvas and leather later , by removing the screws .

Cheers,

Scott

To kind of answer your question on strops. Yes it is generally advised to order a inexpensive strop for the first go around. It is true you will put the odd mark on it in the first few weeks. Just be carefull to not confunse inexpensive and Cheap. The leather has to be smooth and flat, if it is cupped or full of ridges and bumps it is not going to be much use. this is why the star shaving and Rup are decent purchases. Enough people have gone before you to evaluate and that they are of suffcient quality.

Welcome to the forum and the world of straight razor shaving. I have the exact same razor you have and I love it! I got and use the strop that came from SRD and it does a great job for me. I did upgrade the strap from a 2" to a 3". Make sure you carefully dry off your razor after using it. Even though I use my razor everyday, after I dry it off, I coat the blade with Camellia oil on both sides.

Hi brutal, welcome to the forums...

I love that strop, but ... for a beginner you can get a less expensive strop to get the technique down. Also, I found as a beginner that the thinner 2" strops were harder for me to do a good job with. You have to master the X pattern so as to cover the blade evenly. However, if you get a 3" strop you can practice the flip, without having to master the X yet. I would seriously look at the starshaving 3" big daddy mentioned above. It's a wonderful strop and would save ya 10 bucks. Your going to learn to repair strops as well, because you will nick it. We all did. You have to get the art of sanding them down or off, and sometimes even gluing should you create a large cut with a flap. Do all that on a cheap strop first, then when your technique has improved and you've completely ruined your strop, buy this nice one here.

I made the mistake of investing a lot of money in things early on, and I learned a valuable (pun intended) lesson. The strop you get could end up lasting you years, make sure it's one want though.

Just my opinion mate, I also believe in doing what makes you happiest.

M

or you may try whippeddog they sell a budget package of strop & chrom ox. on balsa
Good prices, talk to larry, nice person & very helpful

thank you for all of your advice i just bought the big daddy 3" and i will let you all know how i like it after i get a few shaves under my belt

good luck, its a ton of fun.

i have about a month under my belt and i love the 3in big daddy and i hate to say it but i nicked it the first time stropping i am happy i didn't spend a lot of money on my first strop... i believe that i have improved with my stropping.....oh can you give me some advice on repairing nicks ?

Brutal, Get some 600 or 1000 grit wet or dry and some strop conditioner or neatsfoot oil. Gently, ever so gently sand the nicks and try not to go to wide around it. Just try and keep it on the nick. If it is a cut and there is a flap, you need to sand the flap off. When you think it is nice and smooth, treat the area with the conditioner or neatsfoot oil. Let is soak in good and sit for a day. Treat it again and let it sit another day. It should be good to go. That's what I did for my strop and she's still going strong. I've managed to only put a few on the edge closest to the grasp point. I've not nicked my strop in quite a while now, so I'm content I'm doing alright.

The concept is that a dip is better than a bump. If the flap can roll, it will not let the blade surface touch completely. It's not going to do your blade any favors if the edge is drug across a bump or flap. You have to get rid of anything above the level of the strop. If the cut is huge, you will have to glue it. That's for someone else to describe! I've never cut it so bad it had to be glued.

Good luck man!!

M