Thread: Argh! This strop.

I say don't do any more than palm rubbing and skip the lather and bottle/coffee mug trick.

Why? Because it's new and you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get it to work for you.
If you are having this much issue with a new strop, contact the vendor.

From what I can see the ridge and the wrinkled area is simply a defect. A quality strop should be smooth and blemish free. That's the short and long of it. Draw is just a characteristic strops have and some have more and some less and some folks prefer more or less. it has nada to do with strop performance.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

From what I can see the ridge and the wrinkled area is simply a defect. A quality strop should be smooth and blemish free. That's the short and long of it. Draw is just a characteristic strops have and some have more and some less and some folks prefer more or less. it has nada to do with strop performance.

Exactly. I had an issue with a strop recently and was sent a replacement leather from the vendor.

Before taking it upon yourself to do anything to your strop, contact the vendor. I'm unsure if they would do anything for you after you mess with it as I've never done business with them before, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Just my advice on what I would do after getting a second opinion as you have already done here.

Advice taken. I'll contact Star.

I contacted * about a week ago regarding treatment of the strop and concerns via an email contact form.

I have sent a second email today mentioning the defect.

I wish I had a phone number.

I personally don't like spending good money on something that I can't use. When buying a strop, you're first and formost paying for a smooth, flat piece of leather. If the leather isn't smooth and flat, it isn't fulfilling it's basic function.

If it were me, and I had an issue with something and the vendor didn't want to fix it, I'd return it, ask for a refund and take my business elsewhere. That's why you always use paypal. Worst case you can file a case against them...harder to do if you use a credit card outside of paypal (believe me, it's happened it me recently and I'm out around $50 because of it).

Again, this is all "worst case ontario".

I'm pretty sure lots of guys use star shaving so I don't think you'll have too much of an issue, but hopefully someone who has more experience with them can chime in...

Originally Posted by kwlfca

Again, this is all "worst case ontario".

Exactly. I successfully avoided Canada in its entirety for nearly the last four decades.

I would love a phone number for these guys. I really don't want to go down the hassle of dusputing via paypal. And, for all I've heard about them via SRP, they appear vouched for. I just want them to contact me.

Does anybody have contact info for Star Shaving other than their site's canned Contact Us form?

Originally Posted by Siguy

Exactly. I successfully avoided Canada in its entirety for nearly the last four decades.

I would love a phone number for these guys. I really don't want to go down the hassle of dusputing via paypal. And, for all I've heard about them via SRP, they appear vouched for. I just want them to contact me.

Does anybody have contact info for Star Shaving other than their site's canned Contact Us form?

It's a "Rickyism" from Trailer Park Boys. Youtube if unfamiliar.

I'd just be patient. If they don't respond after a day or two, mention SRP...I'm sure that would wake them up

Originally Posted by kwlfca

It's a "Rickyism" from Trailer Park Boys. Youtube if unfamiliar.

Now you're speaking my language. I think I'll get two birds stoned at once and have both zesty mordant and dressed all over...

+1 to the advice above. There's a difference between something needing to be broken in, and something just plain broken. I hope you're able to resolve it with the vendor without too much hassle.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

+1 to the advice above. There's a difference between something needing to be broken in, and something just plain broken. I hope you're able to resolve it with the vendor without too much hassle.

I agree. I went back and copied and pasted an email to several of the email addresses found from the transaction communications. Still nothing. I found another SRP member with similar communication issues. He mentioned that he had a phone number, so I PMed him. We'll see.

I run a Chestnut English Bridle with felt ( yours looks like the Latigo which is supposed to be 50-60K grit compared to the 80-100k grit of the English)
priciple should work the same the same i think though
when i first got mine I found that seemed to grip my razor a lot & leave a build up along the spine & just above the edge of the blade

whip up a good thick lather not to wet with your regular shave soap & brush, only lather the stroping face,
don't get the felt or back of the leather wet as it will soak in differently.
whilest lathered rub it with a smooth bottle with no lables etc, until the lather is either obsorbed or used up. hang to dry is best, ( i have used mine while still moist feels ok but a bit more draw feel to it )
I have done this a couple of times since I got it in June, as well as rubbing it daily with my hands, has come leaps & bounds.
my nephew has done the same with the bottle, has also lathered & left it lathered until dryed then rubbed it dry also & it has soffened a lot quicker than mine did without the lather at first.
I also have a spare replacement leather for it which will be started this way also & as i already have several nicks to gouges in my original
By the ridge to you mean the longatudinal lines in the strop cos I think this is due to the 3" width with only the 2" D rings gives a bit of a curve as such as the heal & toe will touch but the bellow will not with out the extra preassure my smiling blades didn't mind it but my staight blades & had to X pattern until I lathered & soffened it, so this should smooth out & flatten with the used of the bottle & lather a couple of times also
see how you go