Thread: Could use some help with first time setup

Thanks scookum ill add that place to my favourites look around,... so does one need a fabric side or peice as well ? see wool and felts out there two i was thinking you needed one leather and one fabric,.. but this obviously isnt the case is there a major preference on this ?

Originally Posted by Scookum

I'd advise going to a 3 inch wide strop from the start. You are less likely to hack it to pieces because you dont have to concentrate on doing x strokes AND stropping AND doing the finger flip at the end of the stroke. If you can remove one variable in the equation it makes learning much easier.

If you want to save some money at first I would go buy a 3inch wide 50 inch length piece of leather from Tandy leather. Cut it in half and you have one hanging strop length you can rig up and then chop the other piece in two. Mount them both on two pieces of 12 inch 2x4 and you now have two board strops to practice on. You can use one for chro paste later on for maintaining your razors.

34 dollars

Tandy Leather Factory - Natural Cowhide Leather Strips

I also suggest just getting a strop for the first little while before trying pastes and such. Just the basics. Take it slowly, because this can get crazy pretty quickly.

Noted !, thanks for the warning lmao

Yes do note that I said pastes "later on" lol

As far as fabric goes, its been traditionally used. I wouldnt worry about it right now. Once when you know you can strop safely without undue harm to yourself or your strop then worry about felt, linen etc as a second strop. I'm sure somebody somewhere in the past got by just fine with a hunk of leather.

Yeah, you dont know me well yet, there is never a time without risk and undue harm to myself, your talking to a guy who is gonna shim an R41 with 3 blades tonight just for the fun of it lol,... but will make a great post, ill stick with the hunk of leather for now

Originally Posted by Scookum

Yes do note that I said pastes "later on" lol

As far as fabric goes, its been traditionally used. I wouldnt worry about it right now. Once when you know you can strop safely without undue harm to yourself or your strop then worry about felt, linen etc as a second strop. I'm sure somebody somewhere in the past got by just fine with a hunk of leather.