Thread: SRD 3" Premium II Leather Strop + Crox?

I want to thank everyone of their input, much appreciated.

Originally Posted by lz6

Ymir, at this point in time and considering you are just beginning to get acquainted with straight razor shaving my suggestion would be to give no thought at all to pastes as yet.
Get used to your new SRD strop with the secondary strop it comes with. That combination will allow you to have edges that
will be very shaveable. Hand rub your strop leather several times a day and everything will fall into place for you.
Starting out it just makes more sense to forget about pastes, sprays and such.
Master the art of stropping and you will then find yourself comfortable to begin and read and understand what each kind of
strop additive can do to help you. Take your time.

I have so far ordered the following;

For my father(late birthday present):

Merkur 34c HD Safety Razor
Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap and Dish
Semogue 620 Boar Brush
100x Feather Blades

For my self:

Dovo "Palisander" from TSS
Straight Razor Designs 3" Premium II Leather Strop
Sheps 100% Pure Neatsfoot Oil Strop Conditioner - 8oz
Straight Razor Oil - Blade Proctectant
Chromium Oxide Paste .5 micron Crayon
Musgo Real Shave Cream
Proraso Shaving Cream
Valobra Shaving Soap Stick
Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap and Dish
Semogue 620 Boar Brush
Styptic Pencil XL
Alum Block

I still have some 70€ left to budget in to straight razor shaving, and I am actually not sure what to do. I understand that I will not need to touch up or hone my razor for some time, as it came shave ready. But what should I do when I do require to sharpen my razor again? Next time I will have money to budget in to straight razor shaving is around Christmas, so I would need to get that far with a 70€ costing sharpening solution. I already bought the CrOx crayon from SRD as I thought you can use it on the webbed fabric.

Also wanted to ask if I should be using the neatsfoot oil on the Premium II strop? I bought the oil as it was rather cheap, so better safe than sorry and pay 45$ for shipment twice.

My current set-up is one 2" Russian leather strop with linen back that came with my original starter kit. I've pasted the linen side with Dovo white / grey paste...there is some debate as to what it actually does, but it is slightly abrasive and can be used everyday. I've noticed an improvement in my razors with the Dovo white paste.

I have another 3" strop from SRD with the webbing on the back, I don't touch this strop with any paste's or oils. Same with my Russian strop, simply hand rub them everyday, the oils in your skin naturally conditions the strop.

In terms of CroX, simply purchased an already pasted balsa board, that I bring out now and then to refresh a razor.

If the balsa won't do it anymore, after a lesson with a honemeister, I take my coticule, give it some water, and do 15-20 laps each side with the blade, then to the balsa board, then to the linen w/paste, then to the strop.

Like new again!

So what should I do with the paste I already bought, the SRD green paste? What would you apply it on? Balsa wood?

Originally Posted by Ymir

So what should I do with the paste I already bought, the SRD green paste? What would you apply it on? Balsa wood?

I've also got a tube of the Dovo green paste. I'll use that at some point to refresh the CroX balsa board.

Have a look at some balsa boards that have been pasted already. I bought mine already done, it's on a nice stand, looks like a felt covering pasted with the green CroX. I'm sure there are instructions / advice on the site on how to do this.

Ok so I am trying to sum up a little (My head is spinning from all the reading):

1. SRD Premium II strop = Use always before shaving, first on the webbed fabric side (30-50 strokes) and then on the leather side (40-60 strokes.

2. I need to buy my self either A) Balsa Wood or B) A paddle strop of some kind and apply my CrOx on either of those, and use this to refresh the blade.

3. When the CrOx is no longer sufficient enough to bring the blade back to life, I should go to 12K Naniwa as a example and test shave after this.

4. If the previous is not enough I could try Naniwa 8K, after which Naniwa 12K.

5. If the previous is not sufficient enough, I have most likely ruined the bevel and I might need additional hone to set the bevel?



Am I any closer to understanding this or?

In regards to your #2 - search the site a little, lots of members here have come up with great ideas on different materials to use with the CrOx paste, from simply buying some felt and applying etc...

I believe Lynn has a video in which he uses the CrOx paste on the reverse / back side of the leather strop, leaving the front of the strop for normal stropping use.

Originally Posted by Phrank

In regards to your #2 - search the site a little, lots of members here have come up with great ideas on different materials to use with the CrOx paste, from simply buying some felt and applying etc...

I believe Lynn has a video in which he uses the CrOx paste on the reverse / back side of the leather strop, leaving the front of the strop for normal stropping use.

I was trying to find that video, I just watched it again a few weeks back.


He spoke of putting the CrOx on the back side of the fabric.

Here it is start at the 5:00 minute mark if that is all you want to see

Originally Posted by pfries

I was trying to find that video, I just watched it again a few weeks back.


He spoke of putting the CrOx on the back side of the fabric.

Here it is start at the 5:00 minute mark if that is all you want to see

That's the one!!

That's right...he applied it on the reverse side of the linen, so the front of the linen was still usable for everyday use. Either way, an excellent solution to where to apply your paste.

Originally Posted by Phrank

That's the one!!

That's right...he applied it on the reverse side of the linen, so the front of the linen was still usable for everyday use. Either way, an excellent solution to where to apply your paste.

But if I have now understood right, the paste should only be used on linen, felt or cotton? Not the poly webbing the strop I purchased has?