Fromm Strop Conditioner

So just got an Illinois #827 2.5" strop from the Classic Edge, Phil say's to use some conditioner on this strop for initial use. So put some on, let it dry for the 24 hours, and did some stropping using this beast of a strop.

I must say, the draw on this strop is superb, the fine linen side on the other side is almost like a rough plastic edge, but I've read that mellows with time.

Anyhow, stropped up a razor, 50 X, and had a shave, wow, it really brought the edge up, this is a great strop, and I've read lots of interesting stuff here about it.

So, having used the Fromm Strop Conditioner on my new strop, I figured I'd try to condition my other two. It's winter here, and it's extremely dry, and palm rubbing wasn't cutting it. So applied some and the strops literally drank it up.

Used another razor and stropped on it, and the draw had nicely returned. The other two strops I guess would be considered micro-polished, very smooth shiny strops.

So, does anybody use a progression when stropping? I took out one of my big 9/8 W&B's, stropped on the linen, then moved to the Illinois, and then finished on the SRD 3" strop and had a shave. The edge was superb, really smooth and clean, a description I wouldn't necessarily have used before.

So, any thoughts / experiences on the Illinois #827, the Fromm Strop Conditioner, or potentially using a stropping progression?

Thanks!

;)

The 827 is great and use it after honing. Used it for a while and followed it with a roo strop as a finisher for a nice keen edge. At moment have been going from latigo to English bridle and only using the 827 after honing. Just picked up a Nichiri Pelican strop so may finish on that now. I like the linen rough fine progression. I am a little ocd though but figure its just like a 3 part strop.

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Originally Posted by eddy79

The 827 is great and use it after honing. Used it for a while and followed it with a roo strop as a finisher for a nice keen edge. At moment have been going from latigo to English bridle and only using the 827 after honing. Just picked up a Nichiri Pelican strop so may finish on that now. I like the linen rough fine progression. I am a little ocd though but figure its just like a 3 part strop.

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Thanks! So you're saying stropping on the #827 and then a couple of laps on the English tan leather would be a good progression....get a nice sharp yet smooth edge?

Some of the older strops were 3 parts. Linen for starting then rough leather for sharpening and smooth leather for the final strop. Its mentioned aswell in the kanamaya strop doc I saw on the site. The maker recommend this progression. I have 5 strops and I like the progression but to each their own. Just move in a more refined progressionand all is good

I never did use strop progression beyond a linen one. Old time barbers didn't use a progression and that's enough for me.

My opinion of course-har har.

So as a beginner, must say that after having using this strop for the last 3 weeks, and having used it on several blades now, what a difference a quality strop makes!

After stropping with the #827 yesterday and shaving, I must say the edge on my blades since using this strop have definitely improved, I can say with confidence that this strop has improved the edges of several of my blades, from wedges, to full hollows, to 1/4 hollows, from the W&B, to the TI's to the Dovo's all have benefited from this strop.

So, just goes to show, this journey is always full of nice milestones, where you read something, and then get the chance to actually experience it. Good heavy draw on this strop. Would recommend this strop to anyone as a fairly cheap working strop.

Personally used the "Fromm strop conditioner" with good success, on new Illinois strop and vintage horse hide as well. Only a couple of times on the vintage horse butt hide and probably wont use it again on this one since it gotten nice and slick.

On my Illinois strop, probably once a year give or take a few, the strop draw is greater then the horse butt, that said after linen i use both strop in a progression something like 30 laps a piece.

On the linen or cotton, i use Dovo White paste yearly with very good results as well, Dovo claims that there a very mild abrasives in their paste, and many new linen use this paste as well. I remember reading that Chicago Illinois linen strop were impregnated with cerium oxide.

About the progression for me works well, Linen followed with Illinois strop and finished on Horse butt hide, 30-30-30.

The Illinois #827 was one of my first strops, and continues to still be one of my best. I also use the Fromm conditioner that came with it on all of my other strops. I hate the smell, but the strops look brand new after applying it.

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Personally used the "Fromm strop conditioner" with good success, on new Illinois strop and vintage horse hide as well. Only a couple of times on the vintage horse butt hide and probably wont use it again on this one since it gotten nice and slick.

On my Illinois strop, probably once a year give or take a few, the strop draw is greater then the horse butt, that said after linen i use both strop in a progression something like 30 laps a piece.

On the linen or cotton, i use Dovo White paste yearly with very good results as well, Dovo claims that there a very mild abrasives in their paste, and many new linen use this paste as well. I remember reading that Chicago Illinois linen strop were impregnated with cerium oxide.

About the progression for me works well, Linen followed with Illinois strop and finished on Horse butt hide, 30-30-30.

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Yes, haha, the Fromm Strop conditioner was suggested to apply to the #827, which I did and was great. I also applied it to a dried out 3" tan leather strop that felt like stropping on an ice rink. The first application to the 3" strop literally disappeared as I applied it. Three applications later, the strop has some nice draw now. I do exactly what you doing, main stropping on the #827, then about 20 on the English leather. And yes, have a Dovo strop with the Dovo White / Grey paste on the linen side that really seems to smooth out a blade.

Yes, and the linen side of the #827 is very hard linen, seems to work very well. Are you saying it's impregnated with cerium oxide?

Thanks!

I did a search on the 827 before I brought it and came across a post where someone had contacted the Illinois Strop Co and their reply stated it was indeed impregnated with an abrasive. Wheather it is cerium oxide or not I can't comment.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Are you saying it's impregnated with cerium oxide? Thanks!

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Actually found the description again and its not cerium oxide but Zinc oxide.

Attachment 151332

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Actually found the description again and its not cerium oxide but Zinc oxide.

Attachment 151332

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Thanks Martin103!!

When this was first mentioned, I looked more closely at the linen side and it definitely seemed the most unusual linen I'd seen. When I stropped on the crisp, hard linen side, it was definitely doing something different, and the more I've used it, upping strokes on the linen to 40x and the leather 60x, the difference in the blade edges were noticeable. While it's not the best strop out there, it's certainly been reviewed rather well on the site, and for it's cost, it's certainly my goto strop.

For the money, the Illinois #827 has been a significant asset and improvement to all my edges...especially since after using the #827, I'll then do a final 20x on the SRP tan leather strop to finish and the result has been great!!

Thanks again!!

Was just stropping up a razor for a shave and noticed the Fine Linen side of the Illinois #827 said, "Finishing".

So am wondering, being that it is impregnated with zinc oxide, would the progression be strop on leather first then finish on the linen?

Usually it's linen then leather, I wonder if it's different in this case?