not a fan of illinois #827

im not a fan of the illinois #827. it was my third strop from illinois, because the first strop i got a little less than a year a go i cut in half (what i was learning? haha) and the second one i got dropped in my toilet bowl (dont ask, youd have to see the set up in my bathroom) so i got the 827 like 3 or 4 months ago, i dont like the way its holding up. i've always been told you shouldnt have to do anything to a strop. but this this is shedding like its got hair. maybe its just really rough leather and needs extra care most dont? maybe excalibur cutlery isnt that great of a place to order strops from? maybe im just a ****tard?:shrug:

The 827 is a strange strop! That being said, I love mine and it gives me great results. Mine also shed some of its nap at the beginning of its life but has since calmed down quite a bit. I would say give it about 10-12 shaves worth of use and see what you think. The draw is very heavy and I have come to love that about this strop.

Good luck!

-Rob

Don't know that I can help you but I have to say that in all of the threads I have read here on SRP this is the first I have read w/ this issue. Maybe if you take a vid of your stropping someone here may be able to help. Another option is to try and get an SRP meet somewhere on LI so you can work with some other people and observe their techniques. Maybe Tony Miller will notice this thread and offer some assistance. You can try PMing him or contacting him through his web site here: The Well Shaved Gentleman The Heirloom Razor Strop Company : Home Good luck.

That's the one I have, and it works fine.

One thing to keep in mind is that every single leather strop is made from a natural product therefore you can always have slight differences in the product...

I have had 8 different #827's go through my hands in the last year in fact I just got 2 in yesterday....I end up giving them away:shrug:
I had one that was a little bent, other than that I have never had a problem with them... I just rub in some neatsfoot oil for the first 3 days of use and I put that on with an old washcloth.... It sounds like yours just needs a rubdown, many people recommend a bottle burnish I however do not on these strops, if you want a smooth strop buy a smooth strop....

I have switched to the SRD premium for my personal everyday strop simply way to sweet of a strop...

But for after honing, I still use my #827.... I like that slightly rougher finish on the leather and the linen that they use...