Thread: Newb question about strops

So I picked this strop up for about $15, I think it is a Bass brand. I plan on investing in a better strop soon. However, this strop has a pretty slick surface and I'm not real sure it is doing the job (that's along with big assumption that I'm doing mine). I've been doing very light strokes with the spine contacting the the strop the whole time. 40 to 50 strokes. It doesn't seem to be doing what I think it should be.

My question: I have a nice (but not expensive, lest I cut it) oil tanned leather belt that I'm very tempted to use. It seems like it has a better surface than the cheapo strop I bought to get me by.

Any thoughts for or against?

Thanks,

Spencer

You won't know until you shave with that razor the next time if your 'cheapo' strop is doing it's job or not. Light touch is good and remember, each strop has a different draw, from sticky to slick and it all depends on what you like, or feel you like. Again, it's all in how the shave goes.

The worse thing that can happen is you will have to have one of the nice gentlemen on the forums here touch up you razor... Where are you in Texas...there are several of us on here. I keep on hoping for a meet up so I can catch some good tips in person.

Originally Posted by sst3wart

So I picked this strop up for about $15, I think it is a Bass brand. I plan on investing in a better strop soon. However, this strop has a pretty slick surface and I'm not real sure it is doing the job (that's along with big assumption that I'm doing mine). I've been doing very light strokes with the spine contacting the the strop the whole time. 40 to 50 strokes. It doesn't seem to be doing what I think it should be.

My question: I have a nice (but not expensive, lest I cut it) oil tanned leather belt that I'm very tempted to use. It seems like it has a better surface than the cheapo strop I bought to get me by.
Any thoughts for or against?

Thanks,

Spencer

Does it have stitching on it or is it smooth? Personally I would use the cheap strop, IMO it is made to be used as a strop whereas the leather belt is made to hold your pants up.

There is a wide array of things that can be used as strops: belts, newspaper, jeans, the palm of your hand... but as Solitary said, your best bet is to use the thing that was designed for the job.

Try rubbing the strop vigorously with the palm of your hand before use. The oils in your skin will help condition the leather in the strop. But as Razorfeld said, the draw of strops varies hugely.

Something that probably needs to be asked is: what exactly were you expecting the strop to do? That's not at all a facetious question. Just trying to figure out if perhaps the edge has deteriorated to the point where it is beyond a strop and a touch-up on the hones will be necessary.

I use to use a belt a really long time ago. I bought it specifically for a strop. It would be hard to use a used one because it wouldn't be straight and wrinkle free. It needs to be flat and straight and real leather

Not sure what happened to my response...oh well, here we go again...

Thanks for all the replies!

Razorfeld: This is definitely a slick strop. I was wondering if it was the strop or my hand doing the stropping was producing my lackluster results. Today's shave went much better. Details below.

TXShooter: I'm in North Texas, near Denton. A meet would be great, especially to hone some techniques. What would be really cool would be to have a bike rally/straight razor/knife and gun/ cigar smoking/poker playing get together. *That* could be fun!

Solitary: The belt is smooth, unstitched, real leather. However, you're point, and it is a good one, is taken.

Cangooner: My razor has only been used maybe 6 or 7 times and I received shave ready from the classifieds here. I tried the vigorous palm rub today then made about 50 light laps with the razor. I had been noticing a little more tug when I shaved. That all but disappeared today. I had a couple tugs but that was remedied by correcting my angle to the skin.

Rez: The belt I have is the one I always looped over a door knob to strop my knives with. But I'm learning, as so many before me have learned, knives and straight razors are two completely different sharp things that have completely different requirements for care and maintenance.

Thanks again for the replies!

Spencer