Thread: Is this strop ok?

If it were an Illinois strop it would say so. Even in the pic that strop looks cheesy. Nothing wrong with Illinois strops, if they were bad they wouldnt have stayed in business as long as they have.

Thanks for the clarifications on the shipping charges.

I understand your position and I rather pay extra money than not having the possibility to buy your strop.

No problem. I just wanted to clarify that these are actual costs, not me making a killing on shipping. Losses have gone up a bit and I think a few other small vendors have been changing thier shipping methods as well.

Tony

It is well worth the $17 for shipping to get the Tony Miller!

Otherwise you will spend $24.95 (plus shipping) for that cheapo strop, beat up your razors, curse the day you were born, throw it in the trash, and THEN spend the $$ on the Tony Miller.....

How do I know this? Because I've been down that very same road, my friend...

Really, you will be psyched when you recieve the starter strop, very simple, and extremely well made.

You don't need a cavas/linen. If you like you can also use the backside of the starter strop....I do! Not quite the same as canvas, I know, but definitely higher draw and burnishing than the smooth side.

Hey Jason,

I live in Wilmington, NC, just down the road from Bowman Beauty. I stopped by there a few weeks ago and held this very strop in hand. Though it does resemble an Illinois Strop, the leather does seem to be a bit thicker and harder. I am sure it would soften a bit with months of use and/or strop oil. For the price, it really isn't that bad of a strop. You may want to check out their Illinois strop instead as it seems a bit better quality. Hope this helps.

Kyle

For the price, it really isn't that bad of a strop.

Actually, after using it, I can catagorically say it IS that bad of a strop!

The one I had actually scratched up my razor edge (I looked under a microscope before and after). Really, you will be wasting your money on it.

Glad to hear that Illinois strops may look like these, but don't perform like these.

I went ahead and bought a TM Apprentice strop today. At least, I will know where the problem lies if I can't get the razor sharp. Let just hope that I won't ruin this nice strop too fast...

Thanks everyone for the lively posting!

Originally Posted by CapeCodJay

Is this strop ok for a beginner to use?

Barber Razor Strop 23 ½” X 2 ½”: Bowman Beauty & Barber Supply

Thanks for your help.

~Jason

That looks awfully close to an Illinois #827 strop which I have and use. No problems and it does the job.

LIMIT

Sounds like the verdict is in, don't buy it.

I wasn't thinking about Tony's starter strops, but yes if the difference money wise was $20 I'd still say go to Tony.

Fritz, you say you haven't tried a higher end strop, you are soo wrong. Tony makes all his strops with the same quality workmanship and materials. You haven't tried a strop with the fancy fixtures, but that starter strop you got is as good of leather as his others.

and on the note of shipping over seas... I just did some checking 2 days ago, to send a 1 lb package to Wales or Australia the prices were within pennies of each other.

uninsured regular mail $16 (and I have had the same problem with lost and damaged packages)
Regular mail with $50 insurance is $35
Fed-ex or UPS is $100 ouch!

Mike,
Thanks. Yes, all of my strops Apprentice to Artisan use the same quality leather. Just the hardware, handles, linen and labor make the cost difference. Surface quality and grade of Latigo are all the same. Bumps, scars, fat wrinkles, etc.... make a prospective piece of strop leather into a practice strop rather than one I would put my name on. You pay for the leather, you pay for the labor, and yes, one pays for the fact that there is only a 50% yield from a side of leather.

The Illinois strops are not bad, especially if you get a good one. I used to sell them myself but had to weed through the good from the bad and send the rest back. Hopefully every dealer does the same . As for the one mentioned in the first post I do have to wonder if it could really be horsehide as stated. Many barber supply website will call the Illinois Strops horsehide as well, even though Illinois states cowhide.

Tony