Thread: Strop recommendations

Hello SRP,

Hope you all are well, I am in the market for a good strop, I have bought two all ready. The first one is a store brand from an online retailer which came with my razor. It is 3" wide with a second attaced machined webbed strop as well. I have been beating my head against the wall, I can get the razor almost as sharp as a DE razor blade, once I go to the leather side it dulls, or really doesnt improve any... Looking at the leather side it is stiff, wavey and concave. The second is a cheap Chinese made amazon special it does about the same as the online store brand one.

I would like to try a good strop before I sell it. Or if you are interested in a Ralf Aust 5/8 razor PM i can make a deal with you. The razor has been rehoned and is much more sharp then when I bought it. I am just frustrated, too much money and time spent for a tugging and razor burn. Right now my Shavette does a much better job and cost me $12. I kinda feel like a fool investing so much money and getting horrible results.

So if you all can steer me in the direction of a good strop or if you would like to end my misery. Let me know.

Happy Holidays!!!

Originally Posted by Lockwood124

Hello SRP,

Hope you all are well, I am in the market for a good strop, I have bought two all ready. The first one is a store brand from an online retailer which came with my razor. It is 3" wide with a second attaced machined webbed strop as well. I have been beating my head against the wall, I can get the razor almost as sharp as a DE razor blade, once I go to the leather side it dulls, or really doesnt improve any... Looking at the leather side it is stiff, wavey and concave. The second is a cheap Chinese made amazon special it does about the same as the online store brand one.

I would like to try a good strop before I sell it. Or if you are interested in a Ralf Aust 5/8 razor PM i can make a deal with you. The razor has been rehoned and is much more sharp then when I bought it. I am just frustrated, too much money and time spent for a tugging and razor burn. Right now my Shavette does a much better job and cost me $12. I kinda feel like a fool investing so much money and getting horrible results.

So if you all can steer me in the direction of a good strop or if you would like to end my misery. Let me know.

Happy Holidays!!!

im not not sure what you have or where you got it. But ve seen some terrible excuses for strops sent out with razors as a package deal. The razors are not shave ready and if they were, the strops were so mangled and crimped that they would destroy a shi'a able edge immediately. If you think yours is similar, have the razor rehoned before you use it again and then decide where you want to go next. The best value is probably a new SRD strop.

If you post pictures of the strops it would help a bit.

Let me see what I can do!!!

Here it is.

Thanks

So lots of things could be causing issues. IMO that strop looks fine for the job, in fact I have one almost identical only its a 2 inch. In the early stages the learning curve is pretty rough. I would guess its a combination of stropping issues and technique.

Remember pressure doesn't equal closer shave and angles with your shavette are less forgiving than with a straight. 2 spine widths (away from face) is the easiest for me.

Like most new guys this one is operators error ,, and technique shaving has a lot to do with it,, if properly shave ready. But you more than likely rolled your edge,, my DE is not sharper than my straights , after I learned to shave and strop with a razor that was shave ready , they were plenty sharp but we're dull when I didn't know what is doing. Good luck. Tc

Redcane thanks for the tip, I tired that and it worked for me as well. A few things puzzle me one, the blade is more sharp after I strop on the webed side of the strop. Then dulls on the leather side. This is an SRD strop BTW. For the sake of it I ordered thier Premium IV English Braidal replacement strop segment.. This one has a two cringled sections from when it was shipped and I stay away from those.

The blade to me feels 95% there I don't understand why it is sharper after stropping on the Webbed or fabric side. I have done all kinds of hair spilting test to confirm this. What it remeinds me of is when I use shark or derby blades apposed to Astras or Feathers in my shavette..

My way of thinking if the cutting edge had better and more uniform contact with the leather side of the strop it would sharpen the blade more... I mean come on guys wouldn't you be miffed if your $12 Shavette out performed your $$$ straight razor? I am sure I will get this sooner or later. I mean if I can shave with a shavette and not cut my self yet there has to be hope for me right?

I have a srd strop identical to yours.I have had zero problems with it.I hope things improve for you.have you tried a little light palm rubbing of the leather ? I use 30-50 light round trips and receive wonderful shaves.keep practicing and talking to these guys/girls here at srp.

Originally Posted by Lockwood124

Redcane thanks for the tip, I tired that and it worked for me as well. A few things puzzle me one, the blade is more sharp after I strop on the webed side of the strop. Then dulls on the leather side. This is an SRD strop BTW. For the sake of it I ordered thier Premium IV English Braidal replacement strop segment.. This one has a two cringled sections from when it was shipped and I stay away from those.

The blade to me feels 95% there I don't understand why it is sharper after stropping on the Webbed or fabric side. I have done all kinds of hair spilting test to confirm this. What it remeinds me of is when I use shark or derby blades apposed to Astras or Feathers in my shavette..

My way of thinking if the cutting edge had better and more uniform contact with the leather side of the strop it would sharpen the blade more... I mean come on guys wouldn't you be miffed if your $12 Shavette out performed your $$$ straight razor? I am sure I will get this sooner or later. I mean if I can shave with a shavette and not cut my self yet there has to be hope for me right?

I have both of those strops you mentioned... The english bridal IMO is the best bang for your buck. Unfortunately all the strops perform a little different as well so I would stick with the latigo until you figure it out.

Don't hold the strop so tight that it starts to hurt your arm, just a nice comfortable taught grip. Try adding just a tiny.... and I mean TINY bit of pressure on the razor . When you flip the razor, do exactly like you see in the videos and make sure all motion has stopped when making the flip. Also, you don't have to go super fast like you see in all these youtube videos.

I had similar issues when I started. I was almost to passive with the razor and strop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Don't give up, I promise you will get better. It is worth the work and you will end up getting a way more comfortable shave than a shavette. Keep us posted.