Stropping (New User)

What is generally the easiest way to 'hang' a strop on your bathroom wall next to the vanity? Do I use a hook? A ring? What hardware works best?

Welcome to SRP. I like my strop hanging from a door knob. I use a cable tie, also known as a zip tie, to attach it securely. I like the height as it places it about waist high for me which is where most pro barbers I've observed would place theirs. Check out the SRP Wiki here if you haven't already for the beginner's guide and much more useful info on straight razor shaving. :gl:

Many thanks, Jimmy! That sounds like a great idea!

Yep, been a wet shaver forever but decided to go 'green' and get me a straight razor that will hopefully last me a long long time. I got tired of buying blades which gets pretty expensive as we all know.

I take it it's a bit trickier using a straight edge than the traditional razors I've grown accustomed to using. Any tips you'd care to share with me is greatly appreciated!

Hello Joey. I just hang mine from a brass hook. It's just a small brass hook for hanging a plant or something. I have one screwed in the bottom of a cabinet. For me hanging the strop was all about finding the right height to hang it from. Almost anything to secure it will work.

If by wet shaver you mean a DE shaver and you've been using a brush and soaps or creams you probably already have the preparation and the lathering learned. Manipulating the straight razor, skin stretching and blade angle will come with practice. The big tip would be to get a pro honed straight razor to start out with from one of the known vendors who support this forum. Watch the video tutorials in the Wiki and ask any questions you may have on the forum. Read my sig below to avoid nicks and cuts.

I've found the waist height seems to work. I have a belt with a "seatbelt buckle" for the buckle itself. I just attach the hook of my strop right to that and get to work.

As far as attaching the strop, you want the sturdiest, most stable attachment possible.

I use strops with the traditional swivels and metal spring clips (think IRS Co strops). In the past I've tried a hook, such as a cup hook, but the tendency is for the strop to jump off of the hook in the middle of stropping. Therefore I now use a metal screw eye driven into the wooden cabinet just under my bathroom counter top. I've found this to be very stable (the strop has minimal, if any, side to side swing, or up and down bounce as is found with strops attached by a leather cord or similar attachment.) Also there is virtually no way for the strop to come off of it's attachment, so you can focus entirely on your stropping with total confidence.

If you have one of the strops that uses a metal "D" ring, I suggest rigging some type of metal to metal attachment instead of using a flimsy cord type setup. Maybe a small carabiner with some sort of swivel attachment. If you do not have any wooden cabinetry, then drive a screw eye directly into a wall stud at about waist height.

BTW, this may not be the "easiest" way to hang your strop (as requested in the OP), but I think it is one of the best ways of hanging a strop.

I agree. A hook is okay but I have had the strop slip off if lifted a bit too high in relation to the hook. A round eyebolt/lag screw into a stud provides the best attachment point as the strop can be cliped in via the snap with no danger of it coming off. The hook and ring would be second best.

While a thong or cord is useful if you have no hook, as in being brand new to this or travelling I feel it gives too much free play in the strop. I get more bounce this way and far too much side to side movement, both or which can contribute to nicking the strop.

All the methods mentioned will work and each person has his favorites....mine is for the most rigid mounting point you can get.

Tony

I actually like the brass cup hooks from the hardware stores. They screw in easily and hold well. I have a couple screwed into the cabinet under the sink and counter in the bathroom. I ususally can hang two strops on these hooks and I lift the strop up to belly button level for stropping and this angle works nicely. The only time I have trouble with strops jumping off the hook is if I hang three on one and use the back one. Another thing I like about these is that you can simply remove or change out strops with ease and without the strop, the hook is barely noticeable.

Have fun,

Lynn

++1 on Lynn's suggestion. I got a package of brass cup hooks from my local hardware store around the corner to hang my strop on during Christmas. Installed one in a rustic wooden post in my Master bedroom at approx. waist height to hang my strop on. It works like a charm.

You might want to check if there are hooks that match rest of of your bathroom hardware. I've got a hook that is part of the set and it keeps the bathroom cohesive yet gives me reliable way to hang my stop. I also made sure that it screwed into 2x4, and not just drywall.