Thread: I need a strop

Im not sure where to get one or which one for that matter. Im a beginner so I dont want anything fancy, just something that works and works well. Also, I do have an idea of what I am supposed to do according to the videos I saw on youtube but Im afraid I might mess up my razor. How can I learn to strop without anyone showing me how? Also, do I strop before every single shave? If so, its no wonder these time consuming activities were done back hundreds of years ago. They had NOTHING else to do. If I sound mad, I am because I'm sick of paying so much for machIII razors and I hate the DE razor!

Also, do I need paste or no?

I think the general consensus here is that Tony Miller (http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/) makes the best strops money can buy. He has a "starter" strop that is wonderful -- don't let the name or price fool you. I personally have one, and I absolutely love it. It is ~$30.

To learn how to strop to prevent screwing up your new razor, I recommend using a butter knife until you get the motion down. That way you can teach yourself to turn it on the spine and you can learn about how much pressure to apply.

Yes, you need to strop before every shave, but it is not nearly as time consuming as it might seem. Realistically, I probably spend 2-3 minutes stropping before each shave. I generally try to do about 35-40 round trips, which doesn't take long at all.

As for paste, you don't need it to begin. Down the road you might decide you want some, but to start, I'd advise against it.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. I did not see that $30 strop on his website. If you can send me the link, Id really appreciate it. Thanks.

Yeah, that's the main "problem" with Tony being so popular. Since he makes everything himself, he can only make so many, and as straights get more popular it becomes more and more difficult to get your hands on one.

According to his website, he's on vacation right now, but I would suggest you call him next week and ask when the starter strops will be back in stock. I'm assuming you could put in a pre-order for one as soon as he has them back in stock.

If you can't wait that long, Classicshaving appears to have a good selection: http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/522944.htm.

I read Tony's site and he carries then pre-pasted and mentioned this can last up to a year without honing and 6-9 months before pasting again. That's good news to hear.

The strops on classicshaving...I really do not know the difference between all those strops. I wonder why the need for so many. Also, do you recommend a hanging or paddle? thanks.

I personally think hanging are "sexier," although I have read that the paddle strops are slightly easier to learn on. Additionally, you could get a 4-sided paddle with 3 sides pasted and leave 1 side unpasted. That would probably be your most economic/practical bet. However, I have never used a paddle strop, so I can't speak from experience there.

As for the differences between all the ones on Classic, somebody who is more experienced than I will have to chime in here -- I don't really know anything about them. I suspect the main differences are the dimensions, type of leather used, and the hardware. I further suspect that any of them would be perfectly suitable for a beginner. But, like I said, I don't know any of that for sure.

Hey oldfashioned-- If you can't wait for tony to get his site back up, I think that vintage blades has some of his strops.. if not, I do have one the illinois strops that I can sell. Just giving you the option.

Also, i think some guys here make them...I'm thinking kenrup, but I could be wrong!

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

The strops on classicshaving...I really do not know the difference between all those strops.

+1 What one is best for a noob. Like the $30ish ones?

Andy.

The illinois are all good strops...that's certainly not to take away from anything tony makes...certainly not.

As far as the illinois ones go, I have a couple and can't tell the difference. If tony happens to come across this thread, I'd bet he chimes because I think he worked for the strop company at one point...

Nope,
didn't work for Illinois but I sold Illinois strops when I first got into shaving. The good ones were very good but I had plenty that needed to go back simply because no one looked at them after manufacture so I started making strops......the rest they say, is history.

Shaving Shop and Vintage Blades both sell my strops, Straight Razor Designs will have their own branded ones very soon.

Tony