Thread: Daring with a belt

So, there I was at home with my brand new Dovo Forestal and its default sharpness, and no strop...(I regret the cheap one I ordered and decided to cancel it)
I chatted in SRP before and got suggestions about doing it with a newspaper, it didn't make me happy about it.
But, looking on internet for a strop to buy I've noticed that my Levi's leather belt has a similar qualities as a real strop (in a crude look). I dared to do it (according to many stropping instructions) and ironically I had an improvement on the blade.



Here you can see a picture of the belt and its texture. The leather is soft and about 3mm thick. My idea is to use it until I find a good one with a reasonable price. (I've been also thinking about checking some second hand stores...)

If there is anybody panicking with the sin I committed I'd like to know :)
All comments are very welcome
thanks

Stropping done properly can be performed on just about any surface. A belt will suffice if you are proficient and careful. If you're not, you dull your razor and have a nicked belt.

Originally Posted by ace

Stropping done properly can be performed on just about any surface. A belt will suffice if you are proficient and careful. If you're not, you dull your razor and have a nicked belt.

True. In a pinch I will strop on my palm. This has taught me a lot regarding pressure and a careful stroke, but it is also effective.

hmm, interesting.
Do you guys feel it's necessary a smoother surface for a better strop? As I've been seeing with canvas and leather strop, one after other...Or one type of strop is enough for a daily pre shaving?

Originally Posted by unit

True. In a pinch I will strop on my palm. This has taught me a lot regarding pressure and a careful stroke, but it is also effective.

Strop on your palm? I wouldn't have thought a palm would be flat enough to do the job? Do you have to exaggerate an X-pattern on a relatively flat part of your palm?

You may consider checking out
barber shops that have been in
business for many many years.

One may have an old strop that
hasn't been used in ages.


Terry

Originally Posted by carpedm

Strop on your palm? I wouldn't have thought a palm would be flat enough to do the job? Do you have to exaggerate an X-pattern on a relatively flat part of your palm?

Here is a pretty good example of palm stropping. I feel the the result is quite good when I do it, but admittedly, I am not nearly as comfortable stropping on my palm as I am on a traditional barber strop.

http://youtu.be/wXkjXfuNbpg

Originally Posted by Henrique

If there is anybody panicking with the sin I committed I'd like to know
All comments are very welcome

Could've gone the other way so luck was with you.
Considering how long a strop can last even expensive ones are cheap down the line.

Henrique,

In the dark days (for straight razors) of the 1980s & 1990s in the UK I couldn't find a strop. Instead I used an old ex-Army Sam Browne belt for stropping and it worked fine

Experimentation is where it's at with SR shaving, so give your belt a go !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Levi's leather belts actually work great for stropping, I used mine when I started off straight shaving until my poor man strop kit from whippeddog arrived which I used for a month. Now I have a 3" natural from straighrazordesigns and so far it is the best. I also strop my razor on the edge of my palm between passes as my strop hangs from the cupboard and I am too lazy to walk the distance. It is not necessary but to me it makes even the slightest difference. If you don't wish to slice your belt up, consider the whippeddog strop until you find one that you would prefer to keep for a long time. Otherwise the levi's is a good option. Hope that helps

Originally Posted by carpedm

Strop on your palm? I wouldn't have thought a palm would be flat enough to do the job? Do you have to exaggerate an X-pattern on a relatively flat part of your palm?

It is done on the inward facing edge of your palm, the razor is tilted to an angle of about anywhere from 45-90 degrees and the x-patterns are indeed exaggerated. I don't know how others would do it but this is how I do it and it works great. As mentioned by unit above it does teach about the optimum pressure.

Hope that helps, enjoy your shaves

Hal.