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I'm in the market for a strop and would love to hear recommendations from other members. Here are my criteria:
Price: $125 or less
Draw: Prefer light/medium but open to suggestions
2nd material: Not required, open to any/all suggestions
Other: Must be available in the US
So what say you brethren? Pictures and links always appreciated, thank you in advance!
Easy, Kanayama 10000, $119 from Aframestokyo. KANOYAMA Kanayama Cordovan #10000 Razor Strop :rock:
Tony Miller's fast bridle strops are in the select top few.
He makes them in batches as the hides become available so they're not always in stock but, believe me, they are well worth waiting for. They are also right in your budget. His website is : The Well Shaved Gentleman.
A great strop is a key tool.
Happy hunting!
Pete <:-}
I'd be in the Kanayama camp for that money...
Cordovan against any other type of leather is a no-brainer. I've got a Latigo from T. Miller, and I'm not a fan!
Whoa hey now! I didn't say I want to spend the whole budget, but it is available if the right item is out there. If there is a strop that's 95% as good as the Kanayama for 50% the price I would probably opt for the less expensive of the two. Of course in six months I may also kick myself for doing so!Quote:
Originally Posted by Druid
I guess, once again.... I'll have to be the lone voice in the wilderness. I'd go with an SRD English Bridle strop.... but, I think I might get the premium linen component (only because I'm not convinced of the poly version...yet). Your choice as to length.... I got the regular length and I'm happy with it. It took me a long time to get used to the strop, it was quite fast to start, but after a few months of use, a nice light draw has developed and I can keep things under control.
I've considered Kanayama..... I may well spring for one yet... but only because I want one.... need has no bearing on the issue... the SRD is fine, I don't NEED anything else.
I'm also keen on trying out the Roo strop from SRD, no idea if it's any good or not, but it's well spoken of here... as are all the other leather types at SRD, come to think of it.
I do have a couple of Heirloom strops from Tony Miller, from back when he shipped to Canada. I love them to bits, but as he no longer ships to Canada, I'm stuck with SRD, and they do a great job as well.
I really really really like custom strops (having lived in Norway, I'm really keen on Scrupleworks, but there's this $$$ thing again) .... but the more I like a strop, the more likely I am to ruin it with a single "oops" moment. For me... it has to be something affordable and easy to fix.... SRD strops fit that to a T. Nick a strop... no problem, just order the leather bit from SRD..... wanna try another linen or leather component, again... it's available from SRD and you don't need to do surgery to get it swapped out... Nope, SRDs aren't the Mona Lisa's of strops, but it won't kill you if it gets damaged.... replacement parts are but an email away.... OK, + a few shekels.....
My thoughts, and mine alone.
Kaptain "Aw nuts... my irreplaceable strop has to be replaced...... again!" Zero
I'll throw my hat in for an SRD, I forget exactly which one I got, either the natural 3" or premium II. Can't comment on the draw with minimal experience with other strops. But it isn't suctioning the blade to a stop nor smooth as a buttered doorknob. I have the "matched webbing" and it seems alright. My pull to tautness was a little heavy handed on one side, so it is kinda warped. The option to replace it (ridiculously easy) is the bee's knees. Great quality and the hardware is tough.
I haven't used a kanayama, but bought one about an hour ago, out of want not need.
Go to your local horse tack shop and have them cut you a piece of latigo leather 3.5 x 30". Ask to look first to get the smoothest leather they have. Cut a handle on it, punch a hole on the other end for a thong, and viola, you have a top notch strop for $12. (Avoid Tandy Leather b/c the finished side is too rough.)
Add a decent handle, and a canvas side, and... you still have a Latigo strop. Honestly, while this may work for you, it is not something I would recommend to anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbtusa
The extra long English bridle strop, however, is a gift that keeps on giving. Although I have "a few" other strops, this is the one I have been using more or less exclusively for many years.
I even got an English bridle pad for my modular SRD strop. Yes, the leather is that nice.
The leather. Some leathers are far more expensive than others. While a heavy investment may make sense for gloves, or shoes, the leather itself does not make any noticeable difference when it comes to strops, as long as it is flat, and not too thin. The latter being the reason I am not a fan of the Roo or Buffalo strops. The Natural is simply nice. It takes a little while to break in, but once broken in, it works really well. Unless, for some reason, you want massive draw, in which case you should go for Latigo. But I have always found too much draw cumbersome.Quote:
Originally Posted by wxc1006
Hi
Getting piece of leather is the way to go.
Cheapest and best if you glue the leather to a piece of wood.
A firm strop is better because you will be less likely to round the edge over as you would with a slack traditional strop.
Get a second piece of leather and do the same thing glue it down.
get some 300 grit sand paper and sand the surface shine off.
Treat one with some corx green abrasive paste. or white car polish. I use turtle wax polish. it is finer than the green.
Good luck.
You dont have to spend a ton of money to get a good SR shave.
All strops do the same exact thing. A $500 Strop won't give one lick more benefit than a $60 one.
The more expensive one might make you feel better and it might be longer and thicker and a better piece of leather.
So the question you have to ask yourself is, do you just want something that gets the job done for a reasonable price or do you want something more?
The answer will guide you to what you buy. The usual vendors have plenty of choices for you.
Fendrihan has kanayama strops cheaper that Aframes Tokyo I would go there an definitely get a kanayama their cheapest one is 89$
Fendrihan has kanayama strops cheaper that Aframes Tokyo I would go there an definitely get a kanayama their cheapest one is 89$
If you could go outside the US, Scrupleworks makes a superior strop for 850 NOK, or about $100 even plus shipping from Norway, which is not too expensive... A beautiful strop!
Home
I have used newspaper, belts, leather strips, etc. It DOES work, but I enjoy using a proper strop, I will not be making one.
The Kanayamas are praised all around but I think I will pass in this case because I like to have done sort of handle our D-ring termination to hold on to. The Scrupleworks are beautiful! Seriously beautiful. They're also borderline at the top end of my price range, so I'll have to think about it. SRD is looking like a good option so far!
You could always buy a nice vintage one off of eBay with a handle there are quite a few on there now that are cheap an nice with handles. There's always an Illinois strop new or vintage you will pay a bit more for some of the vintage Illinois strops.
Honestly, I don't believe you can get a *better* strop than an SRD.... Yes, it would be trivial to get a *nicer looking* strop than the SRD offerings, if you had an unlimited budget, but you would not be able to improve the edge of your razor after a proper stropping on an SRD strop.... I'm sure, if you owned a $1000 strop, you might be able to convince yourself it's better... After all, look at all those "speaker wires" at $20.000.00 a set and the list goes way beyond that... heck, I saw a silver plated fuse being sold with the claims that it would improve the sound...<sigh> But, in blind testing.... nope, not gonna happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by wxc1006
As for thin vs thick leather.... It's all what the individual prefers and learns to use. Liam Finnegan from the Waldorf Barbershop Dublin, Ireland, has a stropping method that scares the daylights out of me, yet I would not hesitate to have him give me a shave and I'm confident the razor would be keen and comfortable. I'll add the link here, for the Youtube video, but it probably wont play directly, but rather you'll need to click it to go to Youtube and watch it there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h1GC34yyKE
I'm relatively new to this, but the technique used in that video is the complete opposite of what I have learned from SRP and Lynn's videos.
I'm not saying it doesn't work, I don't know that, but it is a different method, that's for sure. Thanks for the video link.
Agree with the recommendation for the SRD strops. The natural was my first and any nicks were easily sanded out while I learnt. Many years later I still use this often and its worn in perfectly.
I have had a few strops including Srd, kanayama, Illinois razor co, vintage and home made. Had Russian, Latigo, English Bridle, Cordivan, Roo, shell. I would suggest either Roo or shell. Best would be vintage shell and proper linen both on good condition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hrfdez
Yeah, like I said... it scares me all to hell and back. But.... my dad's last strop from his barber chair, which I still have, looks exactly like the one Liam uses as far as condition goes. It really feels almost rubbery..... I know it's leather, but it sure doesn't feel like it.
You won't stay head barber in a high end hotel for long, if you don't give close comfortable shaves! I don't doubt his stropping works for him, but he's developed that skill/feel over many years of stropping at least 6 times a day... probably more. It is NOT a technique for hobbyists who only strop maybe once a day.
No disagreement from me :DQuote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero
Thanks, I agree that buying an artisan strop is much more of a want than a need. The SRD strops are already beautiful in their own right. As for Mr. Finnegan... he almost looks as though he's trying to beat a better edge out of that blade! I think I'll stick with my slow and steady method for now. Different strokes for different folks.Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero
I use an Illinois 827 strop (I think from Fromm) that I got on Amazon for about $30. Seems to be holding up well. I finally treated it with some neatsfoot oil.
It's hard for me to focus on the stropping in that video - I get too focused on the music because I love "Begin the Beguine". :rock:
I have a couple of classic shaving 3 inch mountain strops, one Latigo one English bridle, mine are with D rings, both have genuine linen back strop, medium draw, durable and shaves are excellent. Around $87 USD. These are clearly a well made strop, and the linen side isn't felt, it's woven cotton. Excellent for me.
+1 for the SRD strops, I've been highly satisfied with mine. I ordered mine with the Kangaroo leather, since it was the only kind you couldn't order by itself for replacement at the time (I'm not sure if that's still the case or not). I've since gotten another strop from PortlandRazorCo (the Deluxe English Bridle) and it is superb quality, however I find I really, really prefer the kangaroo leather to strop on.
Buy a strop that you will enjoy for years. I started with an Illinois which was ok but not a show piece. I mean they all do what you want even newspaper will do the job. I moved on to a Tony Miller Latigo and a SRD premium which are both high quality and I enjoy pulling the edge across each. My opinion is buy the highest quality you are you willing to spend and you will be happier.
Back one page I talked of the CS 'Mountain strops' Latigo.Bridle, and rightly said they have served me well for the last few years. But, and as has been mentioned, a lot of kit in the straight razor world is not based on need. All the acquisition disorders are genuine, it's a great feeling to get your self a new razor to bring your collection to 30 or 40! Equally so, you get great shaves off of a Naniwa 12k, but, a hell of a lot of us have the Suehiro 20k in our kits. Just to illustrate this, two days ago I received a Kanayama #70000 strop, and to prove how my sanity may be questioned I also bought a Kanyama #10000 which I have put away for the day, Mr Kanoyama departs and they become collector items. Nothing wrong with me folks....lol
Lots of reasons for the hobby, :<)
Whew ! I feel almost normal - Thank youQuote:
Originally Posted by bobski
Mate, if your not experienced, don't fork out big dollars for a top of the line strop. As Mark Big Nose pointed out on page 1 the kanayama #10000 is a value buy at $119. Still it is not the 3 inch $50 strop that will help you beat the nicks and uncertainty over the stroke, cause you aren't consumed by not nicking the bloody strop. 3 inch so you don't have to move the razor laterally, no x needed. straight up and back. Check around and you'll find what you need for $60 bucks or thereabouts. After a year, get yourself a Kanayama then, IMHO. Once you've grooved your stroke you'll never nick one again, unless you have some of that Kentucky stuff in you. (I'm not talking about fried chicken.)