Thread: Beginner Strop

Ordered Flawed Poor Man Strop (just the strop) from Whipped Dog yesterday. It will probably get abused as I have 0 experience stropping. I'm also on a very tight budget atm. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Im reasonably new to this as well. Started with the poor mans strop from Larry, and it did the job. I nicked it a couple of times but not badly. I gave that one to the dog as a chew toy and moved onto the 2nd poor mans strop that came in the kit, and haven't nicked it yet. I also got the paddle strop from SRD recently, and my shaves are smoother after using it compared to poor mans strop. 99% would be down to my technique rather than the quality of leather Im guessing. I like to use the paddle strop now, just sit it on my lap while watching a tv show, but still use the poor mans strop to practice my technique. Once I can get the same shave and speed from a hanging strop compared to the paddle strop I will buy a good hanging strop. I think hanging strops look way nicer, more of an old-school feel about them.

The thing I like about the paddle strop, is that if it is nicked (hasn't been yet), it is easy to just replace the leather. Plus the paddle strop came with a rough leather, felt pad with diamond paste and another felt pad with crox - basically everything I need.

Im glad I experienced both and didn't start with purely a good hanging strop.

For anyone experienced reading, do you know where I can get a piece of shell cordovan the size of SRD paddle strop? Id like to try it rather than spend $300ish on shell cordovan hanging strop, to see if the expense would be worth it or whether english bridle or roo is better. I have found where to get roo / bridle leather (SRD sells the bridle paddle leather ready to attach) to suit the paddle strop but can't find shell cordovan. Im interested in getting the different leathers, used on a paddle to remove variables, to see what works best for me over the next 6-12 months. I have shoes in shell cordovan and the leather is amazing, keen to try it with razors. When I buy a hanging strop I want to get only one, that I will be happy with for ever (until strop acquisition disorder sets in)

I live in amish country I was told that latigo which already has emollients in it will this b ok I got a strop 3" by3' with a hook on the end for 25$ will this leatther work or do I need another type

I am looking for a new strop I seem to have lost the strop that came with my straight razor so I am looking an getting a new one. Have noticed that several makers will make their strops with different forms of leather. Can someone tell me the difference between Russian, English Bridal....etc in the quality of leather and how well they do their job?

As a noob (to straight razors) who yesterday had first stropping session I am really glad that I bought one of the cheapest strops I could get (Whiped Dog flawed poor man's strop). That X motion isn't that easy to get used to and my strop now has at least dozen of nicks

Gents

I think the general consensus is that if you have smooth, good quality leather it won't make a difference to the edge whether that was cordovan, latigo, bovine, roo, etc. The feel and colour of the strop and the thickness of the leather will differ but they should all do the same job.

My first strop (which I love and still use) was 2.5 inch roo. Very soft, supple, thin strop with what I now know is heavy draw. I have recently acquired a 3 inch English bridle strop which is much thicker with a very light draw. It is also taking some time to 'wear in' so I'm not infatuated with it just yet. Because of the light draw it doesn't feel like it is doing as much 'work' as the roo, but that's all in my mind.

But, YMMV as is always the case.

Hope this helps.