Thread: What Kind of Strop?

Originally Posted by Phrank

Yes - I did quite a lot of reading here about the Illinois strop, found out Gssixgun and many others consider it a workhorse, go-to strop and I haven't been disappointed. Had it about a month now, and it might just be me, but since setting up a solid stropping routine, I've noticed a lot of improvement in my edges.

I know strop after letting the razor air dry, then 20 on the cerium oxide linen, 40 on the leather, drop of Tuf-Glide in the pivot area, into a razor sock until next use. Then, before shaving, another 20 linen and 40 leather and the shave since have virtually been I could technically get away with a one pass shave.

I know there has been debate about the Fromm Strop conditioner, but Phil at the Classic Edge say's it's one of the few strops that initially requires a little conditioner, one application and you're done. Seems to have worked well for me, now it's just hand rubbing, but I love the draw on the Russian leather, and the hard glass like surface of the linen side even feels likes and sounds like it's improving the edge....YMMV.

Sounds to me like you have most of a bottle of conditioner that you no longer need then phrank

With regards to handles or d rings, I prefer to hook my fingers through something, so it's rings or equivalent for me.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Sounds to me like you have most of a bottle of conditioner that you no longer need then phrank

With regards to handles or d rings, I prefer to hook my fingers through something, so it's rings or equivalent for me.

Yes, lots left, sheesh, if I had a saddle it might come in handy, but no horses in my neigbourhood, only wild polar bears roaming around and they don't like saddles I hear....

Originally Posted by Quakefire

I noticed with the 827 that the back side of the russian leather is more like a washboard (expected it to be flat) Is there any reason for this?

The ‘washboard’ is the result of the way the leather was formed. It’s my understanding that it’s put into a press and the ridges are intentional!

Regardless it is a nice strop! As I said before it’s a real workhorse!

I’m sure that if Neil wasn’t recovering from phenomena he’d jump in with his vast knowledge of strops and fully explain the process!

If you’d like more from Neil and strops here’s the link to Obie’s interview with him:
Straight Razor Place - Conversation with Neil Miller

Sanfte Rasur, mein Klingenbruder!

(Smooth Shaving My Brother In Blades)

Originally Posted by Phrank

Yes, lots left, sheesh, if I had a saddle it might come in handy, but no horses in my neigbourhood, only wild polar bears roaming around and they don't like saddles I hear....

Classifieds, small bottles. That's all I am saying

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

My understanding is that Russian leather is horse shell, a tanned membrane from the rump. I could be wrong, but that's what I remember. I have two vintage Russian Shell strops and they are my (pardon the pun) workhorses of my strops. The texture is part of the tanning process.

The texture is from the flesh side of the leather. Most things are used with the hair side of the leather facing outward to the world. I have made leather from the skins of animals.

That ridged inside is exactly from a roller-adds flexibility and makes a zip zip sound if you use it. Oh was that the texture to which you refer, maybe i miss read.

But the great hard slick of the Russian Shell leathers is hair side. The 827 is not this. not mine.

@Phrank, yes. Easy to tell it's been treated. Can see excess from the application.

From my understanding from what I've read on this site the Russian leather is a name given to leather treated in a certain way and not the actual leather as it was traditionally. If you do a search you can find the treatment method and how it differs from the traditional Russian leather.