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most everyone is familiar with Tony's strops and all i have heard is great things about them. So i decided i needed to check them out (hopefully soon order one) With his strops he offers a practice strop for around $7.50. So does anyone know if this would be a good strop to use with paste?:thinking:
Can't believe I'm going to say this about a TM strop, but sure, it would be fine. I mean after all it's his practice strop.
I can't imagine a bad strop for paste, it's mainly just a vehicle. You could use newspaper, glass, linen, etc. I'm not sure if you'd be getting any advantage that it's a strip of Latigo, or cow hide.
For that price I think it's fine and worth it.
I love my TM Artisan latigo. But I'd skip the practice strop if I had to do it again - it has no stabilizing bolts, so it cups dramatically. I plan eventually to paste mine to a piece of wood, and perhaps use that for a paste. But if you want a good hanging strop for paste, I'd get a cheap Illinois or something, because I don't think cupping is good for even pasted strops.
My hangling TM latigo may be my favorite piece of shaving equipment.
Personally, if I weren't fluid yet in strop, I would use it as practice so you don't nick up your more fancy, expensive TM strop. And then when you get so that you don't nick up your strop up anymore, use the practice strop for travel. Or you could pass it on to someone new to the hobby!
That doesn't answer the paste question. I would make up a pasted paddle strop out of a piece of balsa wood and half a stair spindle from Home Despot.
Of course, YMMV. But enjoy your Tony Miller, whichever way you choose!
cass
I BOUGHT A PROFORMA AND F!@#$K IT UP CUASE I WASNT THAT GOOD...IT COST 33 BUCKS AND GOOD THING IT WASNT MY TONY STROP...TO FIX UP THE NICKS JUST USE A FILE OR SANDPAPPER AND SAND OUT NICKS.
If the intent is to BUY a hanging strop specifically for pastes I would choose something different. Thicker maybe or with different hanging hardware. A cheap Illinois or entry level Dovo would be my choice as I would want a firm surface but it needs to be as flat as any daily use strop so maybe the Illinois would be the best option as I have rarely seen one of them cup in use.
If you already own something just use that, but if buying specifically to paste, it needs to be made a certain way just as a daily use strop would be.
Tony
Thanks Tony (you cant get a better reply than from the man himself) When i checked out your site is when i saw you offered a practice strop well for the money i thought why not and later when i got my skills a little better move on to the good strop and use the practice for paste. As of now i have a dovo strop i ordered with my razor. I hope still to order one of your strops for daily use and will probably just use the old one for paste.
Thanks very much for the reply!!!
I also recently heard a senior member tell newbies not to use hanging strops for pastes .
Al raz.
why?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alraz
I'm just curious. I have found that all the "don't do this if you are a newbie" advice is really a handicap - just get the good stuff that people that do this hobby use and figure out how to use it, and off you go. I took the prevailing B&B newbie advice to get a pasted paddle strop, and "that's all I'd never need," [absolute total bollocks advice] and I kept screwing up my razors.
Then I got me a TM artisan hanging strop and some proper hones - heaven. For me anyway, hanging strops were MUCH easier to master than a paddle strop, on which I still can't get my backhand right. All thise reminds me by the way that I need to get me a TM horsehide this year......
My father in law, when he saw my TM latigo this holiday season, said it was gorgeous and asked deferentially if he could touch it. I thought that was funny - it's so classy he was afraid he mess it up. :bow
I think everyone is different when it comes to what works for them. I have always suggested paddles for newbies because when I started straight shaving it made the biggest difference for me in the quality of my edge. It was easy to use, I got good results and therefore stayed on the path with straight razors.
Are paddles the ideal tool, no not really. I still think one needs a hanging strop and a hone (or send a razor to a honer) and a pasted strop for upkeep of an edge. All three compliment each other.
As you suggested though there is a lot to be said for just buying what the experts use and stepping up an learning to use them properly. They are proven tools. But not everyone has the same "stick to it ness". Some guys know what they want and will work till they get there. Others are trying things out....."this looks cool, I wonder how difficult it will be". They want a chance to sample the hobby and for them the easy path may win them over and then they can expand thier knowledge and equipment.
I feel it is best to present a newbie with both paths. Here is the idea setup that will carry you through ( Norton, strop, etc....) and you can upgrade later (felt strops, honing films, glass hones, Shaptons, etc..) or here is a quick introduction that will fit into a more complex assortment of tools later (a homemade balsa paddle with a single paste and a cheap strop) if you continue.
I have learned both ways. In some hobbies I know my level of interest will increase and I want the traditional path, on others I want to "try it on" first and see if I want to continue. I don't want to start with junk but with a single tool that I can keep and use as part of a larger plan but without investing a huge amount of time just to try it.
Anyway, we got a bit off topic but we need to realize different tool work for different people. I love a pasted hanging strop but have seen enough newbie have trouble not ruining a blade on a plain strop so what will happen on an abrasive one? yes, they 'should"learn to use it properly but not everyone will want to devote the time needed.
Tony
Tony, all excellent points as usual. What is the risk with a pasted hanging strop - I may try that this year and want to beware any hazard. Is it that if you don't keep it taut, the abrasive will accentuate the error?
Exactly. Beginners seem to have trouble with how taut or slack a strop should be held as well as keeping the spine flat. When used properly I prefer it over a paddle when using it as a quick touchup in the bathroom with a single very fine paste. For more involved refreshing work I like a paddle with several surfaces and that is rigid. Again though with more coarse pastes the rigidity may be more important as a coarse paste can do a lot of damage if improperly used as easily as it could do a lot of good if used correctly. With a super fine abrasive you have less chance of doing damage even if your technique was a bit off.Quote:
Originally Posted by loueedacat
Keith's felt hanging strop seem to work very well like this from what I have heard and while I don't know how firm the surface is compared to leather I can imagine the extra thickness makes it stay quite flat no matter the tension used.
Tony