Thread: A word of advice if you're buying your first strop.

Like many people here I bought my first strop from Tony Miller, a 3" latigo and canvas artisan strop. it's a beautiful piece of work. However, although bought on my recommendation it was bought by someone else as a present for me so I didn't make the order myself.

The upshot of this is that I forgot to mention to them to order the practice strop. Now, you might be thinking that you don't need this when you're buying a lovely new artisan strop. You'll be careful with it, you know you will, you won't go too fast, you won't stop concentrating for a second and you're not going to get a single nick in it.

Ahem!

Yes you will, you'll take it slowly to start with but after a little while you'll get complacent, you'll get that little bit too fast and then you'll find yourself with nicks in it and you'll stare with horror at the damage.

Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I have just a few little nicks in my strop. I've rubbed them out with pumice and they don't affect it, they're not very deep and I'm sure over time they'll fade into the strop and I won't notice them. Much.

So, just a small word of advice if you're buying your first strop from Tony, buy the practice strop, you'll be grateful you did when you see the nicks you put in it that won't go in your main strop.

Cheers,

J.

^ +1.

Fortunately I orderd the strop myself, with a practice strop, and I am so pleased I did.

I too managed to place about 3 minor nicks in this strop in the first few days. I have now got my stropping technique down (after 2 weeks of str8 shaves) and am tempted to get the Artisan out of storage. That said, I promised I was going to give myself at least a month on the practice strop, and I am going to stick to that promise.

Please take the above advice if you are a newb. You will be so glad you did.

For those who did not buy a practice strop or who did and still damaged their good one I do always sell replacement leather or canvas. This way you can repair your strop instead of having to buy a completely new one if damaged. I know...business school says plan in obsolesence but I didn't go to business school
This is why I use chicago screws instead of stitching so you can repair this yourself.

Tony

I agree on the practice strop. Whilst my only strop ATM is a practice one, I noticed just recently multiple nicks in it, and a line across the width of it which suggests to me, had I have used any pressure, I would have shortened my strop substantially.
I need to try that pumice trick.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

For those who did not buy a practice strop or who did and still damaged their good one I do always sell replacement leather or canvas. This way you can repair your strop instead of having to buy a completely new one if damaged. I know...business school says plan in obsolesence but I didn't go to business school
This is why I use chicago screws instead of stitching so you can repair this yourself.

Tony

That's a very useful piece of information, that I am sure many will be grateful of.

Thanks Tony!

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

For those who did not buy a practice strop or who did and still damaged their good one I do always sell replacement leather or canvas. This way you can repair your strop instead of having to buy a completely new one if damaged. I know...business school says plan in obsolesence but I didn't go to business school
This is why I use chicago screws instead of stitching so you can repair this yourself.

Tony

Very cool, Tony!

@mr_magicfingers: Been there, done that. My plain leather strop also has a few nicks but, if treated correctly, they don't affect the performance nor do damage to the razor.

Ive got a couple of old barber strops that I just love. Do they have nicks? Yes they do. Wont hurt a thing.

I have been staying with the Miller practice strop for now and a less expensive Illinois before moving to Artisian. I'm not sure why but I have not nicked the TM practice strop as yet but I seem to nick the Illinios.

Just to clarify:

practice strop...$6.50 strop from left over leather, straight cut end, 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" wide, 21" to 24" long, thong & bead through a hole, no grommet. No logo, just an "X" or a "2". Sold ONLY with our best Artsan strops.

Apprentice/Starter strop...$29.95 strop from our best leather, same as used on an Artisan. 2 1/2" wide, 24" long, contoured integral cut handle, thong and bead through a grommeted hole, WITH our logo. Sold as a separate item.

These two get confused with each other quite a bit when you fellows post and I then get a rash of e-mails wondering why I would notsell the practice strops separately when "everyone else got to buy one"

Different beasts for different purposes.

Thanks,
Tony

Just adding my two cents' worth to what everyone else has said. For me, the difficult part is using the practice strop and letting the Artisan hang in the closet. But, that all paid off as I have nicked (I'll go sar far as to say "cut") the practice strop several times. My plan is eventually to go to the Artisan and use the practice as a travel strop, or pasted strop. IMHO, you just can't go wrong ordering the practice strop if you are a newbie.

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