Thread: Stropping - Which side do I use?

Oh o.... That's one of the 'don't touch with a 10 foot pole' brands.

It looks like it. I bought a very inexpensive starter kit to try out straight razor shaving and I'm digging it. I might buy a better kit when I get better but I can tell everything that came in the kit is low quality. Even the boar brush they gave me seems lame.

Glad the crap stuff hasn't dissuaded you. If you like the whole Straight razor thing so far just wait till you get some quality gear!! to answer your question - you strop on the smooth leather. If your razors a buckingham too then it will likely be an exercise in futility though.

No, the razor is a Dovo 5/8 solingen. Thanks, i'll keep stropping on the smoother side.

Ahh great. Can't go wrong with a DOVO. All the best!

Leather is leather - kind of.... I wouldn't be too worried about that strop's quality, at least to begin with - in fact, the pics look OK from what I can see, although there appear to be some scratches or creases or something on it - just make sure that surface is reasonably smooth. You might just be happy to have a cheaper one to learn on anyway - everyone gets a nick or two in the leather at some point.

James.

Do yourself a BIG favor. Spend the $20 to have the razor professionally sharpened. It will give you a baseline for a proper edge. Straight Razor Designs does arguably the best job. It will also become evident quickly that stropping like shaving is an acquired skill. It will take time and practice to maintain a good razor's edge. An inexpensive strop is a great starter because you will nick and or cut the strop during the learning process. GO Slow speed comes easily with time. Don't think you need to finish every shave with your Dovo. Work it until you tire or lose confidence and then finish with what you have been using in the past. READ the beginners tutorials and the Wiki. Enjoy the ride....er the shaving experience