All right guys, I've been wanting to bring somebody else over to the dark side. My younger brother turned 29 saturday and I'm going to give him the starter razor and strop that I started with. My uncle has agreed to buy him a starting out brush.

but this raises a problem, I need a new strop for myself. I thought this is a good chance for me to upgrade to a nicer strop. this one had no handle at the bottom and just a lanyard at the top.

I hear the tony miller ones talked up here. I went to the sight, which is run kinda weird for a store but I guess opens on tuesday night for orders. I'm not sure what'll be available as it looks like it is an order it when they have it setup. ACtually nice from the instant gratification standpoint, knowing you won't have to wait for it to be made.

back to point. horsehide, latigo, cotton/canvas. 2.5" or 3". so many choices. Just wondering what you all have found to be useful, what you recommend? other sources for a good strop that might be less pricey for me? (I went to the one local place that I knew might have a strop, they had one that was linen backed no wider than my belt and about a foot long for 50+!!!)

I so far do not do the x-pattern even though my strop is probably only 2.5 inches. I just alternated the blade position in my strokes. I guess I haven't gotten comfortable with the X. thus far I seem to not have trouble. the rough side of this one has green paste applied to it and I have used it once, last week when I was getting worried I needed to send my daily shaver out for honing and faced with a wait. it seemed to bring the edge back nicely and the blade can still pop hairs. do I need a strop thus treated or does the linen/canvas accomplish the same?

Thanks all.

Red