opinions on strop purchase

Hi, im new to shaving with a straight razor, or, a razor for that matter. been getting by with just a clipper for ten years now.

i bought a straight razor off ebay, a zeva, because i thought the scales looked nice, and ended up having to fix it so the blade doesnt hit the scales, and had to sharpen it myself as well, i got it sharp enough to cut hairs, but it still pulls when shaving so im looking to buy a strop.

i would like to buy off amazon, as its currently easiest for me, and stay under $40. and i would like to know what people here think about a certain one, i read reviews on it, some people were very satisfied with it and some said it came hard and needed a lot of conditioning. one person in particular had a detailed review on how he softened it up.

here's a link to the strop

Fromm Razor Strop , 2 1/2-Inches X 23Inches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DYM5TG..._v1YxxbMRFEPJK

It appears to be made by the Illinois Strop Company. They are a known entity. It should serve you and do the job.

I'm thinking that this is an Illinois 827 which I have used for years!

It has a unique leather in that there are 'ridges' from when the leather was pressed. Please don't worry yourself about that as it's the way it's supposed to be.

The 'linen' is also a bit unique but I use this strop as the first step after honing. It will serve you well!

With that said, please be sure to check to make sure that the stop is soft, flexible and that those ridges are there. I was given one from a friend as I'd loaned my old reliable and it came from Amazon and it wasn't usable as the leather was unusable/no ridges and falling apart.

I'm sure that this one strop was a fluke as I've given several to others that were just like my old reliable!

Enjoy it once you get it, it's a great strop!

What did you use for sharpening it? If you are new to this, you might want to check out a second razor in the classifieds. That way you will get to try one honed by someone else, who probably created a better edge than you could as a beginner to this.

You need to send that thing out to be sharpened, or get another one, don't know if it's worth honing, but you have no idea what is shave ready , plus you will need a strop if it's the Illinois 827 it,ll work. Tc

thanks for the vote of confidence cudarunner, i will buy it and let you know of the result

i reprofiled it first with rough diamond, then polished it up to 10k with a sharpening kit a friend lent me, i dont think of it as being worth having sent out to be rehoned, im looking out for another one but in no rush currently, as im still practicing using it


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Originally Posted by waldbrent

thanks for the vote of confidence cudarunner, i will buy it and let you know of the result

i reprofiled it first with rough diamond, then polished it up to 10k with a sharpening kit a friend lent me, i dont think of it as being worth having sent out to be rehoned, im looking out for another one but in no rush currently, as im still practicing using it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Thanks for considering my advice but as my good friend Tc said:

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

You need to send that thing out to be sharpened, or get another one, don't know if it's worth honing, but you have no idea what is shave ready , plus you will need a strop if it's the Illinois 827 it,ll work. Tc

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One of the biggest obstacles that I encounter day to day is that those that are new to this age old art don't and won't believe that honing a straight razor is Completely Different from 'Sharpening a Knife'.

I've posted time and time again that as a former meat cutter I 'Knew' that honing a razor wouldn't be an problem at all!!! GUESS WHAT!?!?!?!??? Big Problem!

With that said every once in awhile there is the exception to the rule, however it's pretty rare!

Not too long ago there was a newbie with the 'I like to do things on my own and I've sharpened knives and such all my life' who wouldn't listen to good solid counsel.

A member offered to hone for free and it was rejected. The newbie finally posted "All Right I Give Up" and sent the blade to be honed.

Lets just say that once the newbie got his Properly Honed razor back he was not only very pleased but also much wiser.

Enjoy the journey, it's a long strange ride but well worth the journey!

Attachment 238941

If you look at the pictures attached by one of the reviewers, it's a 127. I don't know enough about this brand to be able to compare this to the 827 mentioned in this thread, but wanted to mention it in case it's a lesser quality model.

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Originally Posted by Mrchick

If you look at the pictures attached by one of the reviewers, it's a 127. I don't know enough about this brand to be able to compare this to the 827 mentioned in this thread, but wanted to mention it in case it's a lesser quality model.

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thank you mrchick, i looked further and there were two very similar listings on amazon, within $1 price difference one is 127 and the other a 827. which one would be the better choice now i wonder..?


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thanks again cudarunner, i will probably try to get a professional hone once i have a razor that is worth it.


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The differences are explained in this thread. Good luck!
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...p-numbers.html

The strop came in today, here are some detailed photos of it, http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...be7b350245.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...b94fc4a60c.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...540bbb1868.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...a043f89721.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...707f181adf.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...39d3300692.jpg

the leather seems pretty flexible for new leather, hard but flexible. the linen is pretty stiff though.

i tried the palm rub technique i read about in several of the forum posts, and it really seemed to lift up the hairs on the leather, as its a very rough pressed leather, is that normal? what are your thoughts?http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...934437ca46.jpg


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Well my 827 is on loan to my best friend in CA so I can't take pictures but the leather side looks 'wrong' to me. I scrounged around and found this pic from Sharpening Supplies website and it shows what looks how my leather looks and that's with very small indentations (Horizontal Ridges) from the pressing of the large indentations on the back.

Attachment 239162

In my very humble opinion if your hand rubbing is raising the leather then I'd be thinking about sending it back as defective and try another source.

i see now what you mean by ridges, does the pre rubbing picture look like the texture it should have?


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Originally Posted by waldbrent

i see now what you mean by ridges, does the pre rubbing picture look like the texture it should have?

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From what I can see from your picture I'd say NO. It looks completely different than mine. While mine has the minor ridges the leather is smooth and doesn't rise up. Again in my humble opinion I'd return the strop.

I had an 827, didn't like it at all because it has that rougher nap to it. IMO, from what I can see, it's exactly as it should be. The 827 is an entirely different breed of strop. Some really like it and some, like myself, don't. There's a bunch of old threads that talk about this strop and its heavy nap. IIRC, Glen is a 827 fan.

Here's a good link for the 827.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ian-strop.html

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Originally Posted by Brent375HH

I think it is possible they somehow made it with the wrong side out. The inside (ribbed) side looks like the outer skin.

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Uhhh yea they are made inside out as was pointed out at this thread that was posted early in this thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...p-numbers.html

Please check out post #3 in that thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...tml#post256489

wel i took some really fine sandpaper and sanded if off some, then rubbed a leather conditioner on it and polished it over with a smooth cup, this is what it looks like nowhard to capture the smoothness, since the grains that had been sanded are lighter brownhttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...69e16847e0.jpgstill has quite the nap to it though, i will let you know how it works out in the end

yes i had realised that its a flesh side strop, just didnt think the hairs should pull up like that


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I deleted my comment. I did not think strops were ever designed with the rough side of the leather as the intended usage side. Thanks for pointing that out, I guess this is an exception.

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Originally Posted by Brent375HH

I deleted my comment. I did not think strops were ever designed with the rough side of the leather as the intended usage side. Thanks for pointing that out, I guess this is an exception.

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There was no need to delete your comment! :gaah: Without questions and comments there is no learning! If there isn't any learning there isn't any gain of knowledge.

To the best of my knowledge the Illinois 827 is the only strop made that way. :shrug:

If I'm mistaken I do hope someone will make me more knowledgeable. That way I can pass knowledge forward to others to share. :tu

First thought is Re-constituted Leather-like material, like many of todays recliners with 17% real leather, like the one I am sitting in right now, given to me new from a relative who thought they were doing good, has added to my back pain for years now, but, who can afford a real one? The day I pay $$300 Kronar OR dollars for a strop is the day someone put a Billion dollars in my account because I'm such a good guy.

i shaved today with using this strop, and i have to say the experience and result was greatly improved, its still an amateur sharpen(obviously:-) ) but it left my face much more comfortrable than previously.

i have tried a borrowed safety straight before, merkur, i believe, and do know what a professionally sharp blade is like, and im still a ways off from that, so, ill give it time till i find my next razor.

thanks for all the helpful input guys, its really appreciated:-)


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