Thread: Things to strop with in a pinch...

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?

Originally Posted by LegalEagle

I have a very nice leather duffel bag

Maybe roll up an old strop, put a rubber band around it and put it in the duffel bag for your trip?

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...

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

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...

Do you roll up the newspaper and flatten it out? How is this done?

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.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

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.

Incidentally, the meaty part of the palm isn't so flat, right?

Originally Posted by gatorfan

Do you roll up the newspaper and flatten it out? How is this done?

I just keep folding it until i have a long 3 inch wide strip, and then fold it once long ways.
lay it on a very flat hard surface to strop...

Originally Posted by dylandog

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.

Incidentally, the meaty part of the palm isn't so flat, right?

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.

Greetings

Dioni