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Hello All,
I am a complete and utter newbie and am attempting to put together my first straight shave kit. Things are a little tight financially at the moment, so I am trying to sidestep the typical AU$100+ price tag of a strop here in Australia.
Can anyone offer me an opinion on this one that I found on eBay?
http://tinyurl.com/y9p939
If it is rubbish, can anyone recommend a good and reasonably priced product/vendor in Australia?
Cheers,
Scott
Scott,
This looks a lot like one I got for about $15 US on eBay when I was starting out. It wasn't complete trash, but the leather was pretty dry and it was hard to use. It's also small--too narrow and short--which means stropping takes longer.
A good strop makes a huge difference.
Tony Miller could hook you up with a first-rate strop for about $40 US plus shipping. His site is www.thewellshavedgentleman.com. He'll include a beginner's strop for you to trash while you're learning, free of charge.
Tony's products are top notch: I have two of his strops and love them.
Josh
It looks like one of those el-cheapo nasty strops that come with Pakistani razors. It would be FAR better for you to just order one from Tony Miller at www.thewellshavedgentleman.com. His shipping rates are reasonable, product quality is great and the service is outstanding. Since you're already paying for the shipping, you might as well buy one of his bench hones (I think he calls them "bench strops") for $16, for finishing the blades (if you don't already have a pasted paddle strop).
Thanks for the heads-up guys! I had another look at the eBay store for this guy and he has the same strop going for about 5 bucks. I like a bargain as much as the next guy but I also believe you get what you pay for.
I did check out Tony Miller's site and I am filled with much more confidence by his kits! Seems like a decent guy to do business with.
Cheers,
Scott
For a strop thats fit to go out of the packet, I'd go for a Dovo (russian) above any other out there. Try the 3", it's a fantastic strop by anyones standards. For a guy starting out on SR's I just think Dovo's strops are the best for newbie.
PuFF
I started off with a strop from Tony and never looked back. Also bought a DOVO Bismarck razor that he was auctioning off (and it was a good indicator that my honing was right on) and some leather for my bench-hone. You won't get a better bang for the buck on strops and shaving kits anywhere.
Did you go with the paddle (as Tony recommends) or the hanging strop to begin with?
I got a hanger but have got a paddle since then. You should get a hanging strop for sure and get the bench strop as well. It's like a paddle but it only handles a single grit of abrasive (I'd go with 0.5 micron chromium oxide)
I have to say go with a quality product. You will get what you pay for. As well as for old so called vintaged strops on ebay. I bought an old illinois russian strop and man it is hard and dried out, more like dry rotted. I do not think it is worth the effert to try to revive. maybe it will be good for a display but not to use. You will not go wrong or waste money with a good new strop of quality. I have'nt got one of Tony's strops but I know I will sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.
Eddie