Thread: Strop purchasing suggestions.

Originally Posted by Ron A

Hey, Iwan,

I'd be very interested in knowing how you like your new Illinois 827. It reads like a fine strop on the classicshaving.com website.

Ron

If that's the one - I'm pretty sure it's not real horse hide

Cheers
Ivo

No I didn't check with Tony first, it was one of those brainwaves I sometimes have that seemed like a great idea at the time!

I hope the Illinois will be ok, if not I'll likely go back to a Tony Miller #1 strop again, but a 2.5" one next time.

I have DOVO's Best Russian strop, as well as a new Latigo Paragon 3"
from Tony. I sincerely want to go back and try the DOVO to make a
comparison, but I can never bring myself to do it when it comes to
shave time!

Originally Posted by sebell

I have DOVO's Best Russian strop, as well as a new Latigo Paragon 3"
from Tony. I sincerely want to go back and try the DOVO to make a
comparison, but I can never bring myself to do it when it comes to
shave time!

I feel you can't compare the Dovo Russian and a Latigo from TM, they are different beasts I feel for different purposes. My Dovo Russian is a fantastic finishing strop and proves itself on all grinds but more so the lighter grinds. Latigo is a heavy draw strop and suits the heavy razors better (wedges etc), this is not to say it can't be used for full hollows, just it performs well as a pre-strop and heavy razor finisher better than others imo.

PuFF

While I have not had any of my personal strops cup permanently they may occasionally start to cup a little. An easy fix is to hold one hand near the top slightly sqeezing the cup the opposite way then run you hand slowly down the strop. This gentle reverse bow usually corrects the issue within 3 or 4 passes. Humid conditions can make this happen on occasion and some brands are very prone to this. As much as I like the look of Jemico strops I have always had issues with this happening on them.


The Illinois 827 has a unique feel to it. This is actually made with the leather reversed....smooth side on the back, against thew linen and filled with ridges to compress the front, flesh side that is used for stropping. These tend to have lots of draw. These, like other Illinois strops are cowhide, not horsehide although one well known shaving dealer insists on advertising them as horse even though Illinois advertises them all as cowhide.

I do not suggest shaving my strops <g>, nor soaking the linen with lather, etc....

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I do not suggest shaving my strops <g>, nor soaking the linen with lather, etc....

Tony

well, one can shave his face only so many times in a day...

Cheers
Ivo

I'm new to this and am trying to pick up information where I can.

This is a very informative post for me. I've been looking at strops on eBay, in the $20-$30 range. But who knows what I would be getting. This discussion may be causing me to change my mind.

Tom

So....first I get infected with RAD (as Lynn and JoshEarl can attest to )...then MamaBear entices me with the soaps and creams (hmmm...I guess I don't need all this other crap in the medicine cabinet...there, much better...neatly arranged soap tubs... )....I have a nice big Vulfix super badger brush (the big one...I have a big face...small brushes are like trying to paint with a q-tip).......now I am wondering if I have the necessary "stroppage" in the quest for the perfect shave....I have an Illinois 827 Russian with the loose linen strop attached. I repeatedly get an edge that passes the HHT with a nice "tink". I am looking for function over looks (although TM's stuf is amazing)...so, horsehide seems to be better material...but:

1. Do you use pasted strops every day?
2. If so, what grit?
3. Do you use different grits, in an escalating fineness?
4. Paddle strop or another hanging? I am thinking a paddle would eliminate any risk of sag or twist in the strop during use and with different pastes where needed.
5. Is the X-pattern better than a diagonal heel-to-toe and back again?
6. With pasted strops, how many passes? How many without paste? (I have been doing 10-20 linen and 40+ on the leather)
7. What is the air speed velocity of a coconut-laden swallow?

WireBeard

Originally Posted by WireBeard

I am looking for function over looks (although TM's stuf is amazing)...so, horsehide seems to be better material...but:

1. Do you use pasted strops every day?
2. If so, what grit?
3. Do you use different grits, in an escalating fineness?
4. Paddle strop or another hanging? I am thinking a paddle would eliminate any risk of sag or twist in the strop during use and with different pastes where needed.
5. Is the X-pattern better than a diagonal heel-to-toe and back again?
6. With pasted strops, how many passes? How many without paste? (I have been doing 10-20 linen and 40+ on the leather)
7. What is the air speed velocity of a coconut-laden swallow?

WireBeard

Horsehide, cowhide all will achieve the same result with care.

1. no, only when needed
2. I use Lithide and Diamond. Lithide is a fine paste. Diamond 1>.25 depending on edge condition.
3. YES
4. All do the same job, personal pref wins here.
5. Find the action you feel comfortable with. I pref X on 2-2.5" strops and diag on 3". All with work with CARE.
6. As many as needed with attention paid to edge every 10 or less with paste. 30+ with the leather would be a good starting point though you will find this varies with razor and if fresh of the hone or day-to-day.
7. 0 it wouldn't have taken off.

PuFF

I don't use pastes at all.
Unlike most (maybe all) at the SRP, I use one razor, one brush, one strop, but several different soaps and aftershaves for variety.
I don't like "production" and enjoy things more when kept simple.
I find that the 'X' pattern on my hanging strop and occassional touch-ups on my 4000/8000 Norton do just fine in keeping my razor sharp.
Ron