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What are acceptable (and effective) things to use as a strop when you don't have your normal strop? I've heard newspaper, belts, jeans, etc.
Any other ideas y'all have? Personally, I have a very nice leather duffel bag (no seams or anything that would tear up the blade) that I use for overnight trips that I've always wondered about. Thoughts?
Maybe roll up an old strop, put a rubber band around it and put it in the duffel bag for your trip?Quote:
Originally Posted by LegalEagle
I've stropped with belts and just plain struggled through dull shaves while on the road before. It was never worth the effort. Nowadays I'd just buy a disposable if I forgot the strop and needed a shave. But I am getting old and tired.
If you've got the energy I'd recommend the leather belt #1. Pull it real tight. I'd stay away from the dufflebag just because it'd be tough to stretch taut.
I used a belt while sleeping out once.
No comment on the shave. High quality leather belt next time I get adventurous.
I've used newspaper on numerous occasions, it's very slightly abrasive, and can even refine a blade when you don't have that pasted strop handy... (It takes a lot of passes to refine an edge though)
I would try newspaper before experimenting with belts or bags...:shrug:
Do you roll up the newspaper and flatten it out? How is this done?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff
Thanks for the replies, guys. I doubt I'll actually have the courage to try this. If I'm traveling, I'll most likely just take my DE instead. Although, I would be willing to do the newspaper thing if I needed to.
I sometimes use my wallet when traveling. With newspaper I just lay a few sheets flat on the countertop and lightly hone/strop the edge. I usually strop on the meaty part of my palm if I do this though.
With all honing/stropping, I've found that flatness is the big key.
This is exactly what I do, a sort of exaggerated x-pattern on the meaty part of my palm. I tend to do it between different pasted surfaces, to avoid cross-contamination.Quote:
Originally Posted by AFDavis11
Incidentally, the meaty part of the palm isn't so flat, right?
I just keep folding it until i have a long 3 inch wide strip, and then fold it once long ways.Quote:
Originally Posted by gatorfan
lay it on a very flat hard surface to strop...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...f/S5300434.jpg
Palm hand is not flat but it works very Well. An old barber taught me do it. Formerly many barbers used the palm of his hand. They also used very poor people who do not have money for a strop.Quote:
Originally Posted by dylandog
Greetings
Dioni
Mike, do you have any ballpark guess as to what "grit" newspaper is? Would it be comparable to any particular paste on a paddle?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff
Ah, well then my wallet will do just fine! :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by AFDavis11
I also strop on newspaper 2 to 6 layers thick on something flat. I often strop on my palm when shaving (removing the lather/stubble from the razor).
I've heard that newspaper ink is around 0.1 micron or so. Don't quote me.
I have tried using newspaper just like Mike, but I've seen an improvement after putting just a few small dabs of MaaS on first, work it in and let dry. I would not want to do this on a strop because of the other chemicals involved, but a newspaper ends up in the trash or recycled so it's all good. The good thing is that stuff is already hanging around at home if you buy razors off the bay ;)
This is the first time I have heard of using a newspaper for stropping. I tried it and it's very effective.:tu
Ok, what the heck...I just got my first razor but I can't get a Tony Miller apprentice strop for at least another week...I'm going to give the newspaper a go so I can try just one shave. I know I shouldn't, but having a razor and not being able to use it is torture.
Was the razor honed by a reputable honemeister?
If not, neither newspaper nor a strop will make it shave worthy. Those items just maintain an edge that is already in place.
It is winging its way across the country to a honemeister now. I did strop it on newspaper and I shaved with it twice (stropping in between as well). Both shaves were very good (see my post in the Newbie forum for details), but the blade felt a bit grabbier than I would like, so I thought it best to establish a sharpness baseline from an expert just to calibrate my expectations.
Hopefully by the time I get the blade back, Mr. Miller's apprentice strops will be back in stock and I can maintain that edge on the real deal.
:hmmm: I'm not sure how well those poor people would work, it seems like they'd be all bony and wouldn't give a very flat surface to strop on. Also they might not hold still. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Estroncio