Thread: Minimum Stropping Kit

I recently posted another similar thread asking about a minimum honing kit and I received some very helpful advice. I see there is a plethora of honing stones and approaches, but I wanted to get back to basics and keep a pretty minimal kit. Thank you.

I thought I would ask the same question about stropping. Again I see there is a wide variety of stropping gear and approaches. I am using a plain leather board strop and it seems to be doing the trick, but after reading the forums I see there is a range of stropping approaches, linen, leather, paddle, boards, and various pastes. So, with all those options available, what is the basic stropping gear that one requires to keep things pretty minimal and still keep a good edge on their SR?

I have a vintage Hoffritz strop with leather and canvas. I use strop paste from The Art of Shaving on the canvas. Strop canvas first and finish on leather. Maintains an edge for months between touch ups. Works for me.

Originally Posted by Whizbang

what is the basic stropping gear that one requires to keep things pretty minimal and still keep a good edge on their SR?

What you have.

Plain old peice of leather be it hanging, paddle, board or whatever is the basics. Personally I like linen then leather and prefer shell leather but that wasn't the question. Any peice of leather fit for the job will do the trick

I think I would have to add a newspaper strop to the minimum kit. I used one today when I honed my first razor...and it made quite a difference. Cheap as dirt...bonus.

For two decades I got along fine with just a 2" wide piece of Amish strap leather. Before that, I used an old belt. Since finding this forum, I've invested in a few real razor strops, but could still get along with that old belt if I had to.