After my first strop - Sydney Australia

Hi everyone,

I've been using my straight razor and loving it, but I have yet to get myself a strop. I'm after one broad enough that I don't need to do an X pattern. In Sydney there are only a handful of razor boutiques and while they have quality goods and staff the cheapest one I can find from anywhere I feel I can trust is around $200. I'd hate to spend that money for something I feel likely to damage while I'm getting the hang of it. I also am pretty strapped for cash at the moment as I'm saving for my wedding in a few months.

Any recommendations for a strop at around the $50 mark?

Is this any good a product? Buffalo leather wide strop, one-sided, from Razor Shop in Brisbane Extra Wide Buffalo Leather Single Sided Strop | eBay

Have a look on ebay for someone local that can supply a piece of roo leather to suit your needs. Makes the best beginner strop, very flexible. The strop you linked to is probably less than average.

Sent from a moto x far far away

Best bet is a decent one where you can replace the leather if you damage it. Ideally no matter how wide your strop you should still use the x pattern. I prefer 2.5 inch strops and your x doesn't need to be big to use one

Only If you don't have the experience & muscle memory to strop properly will you damage your edge & strop.

You can get that muscle memory by practicing a few hours on a single sheet of newspaper, the width of your strop, held by a small bulldog clip. Too much pressure will make the paper slip from the clip. Also try using a butterknife or similar to develop manual dexterity. Actually, even a tooth brush will work. The motion is similar to twisting a volume knob but use your other fingers to assist.
Once you can comfortably flip the butterknife 180º mid air, try with your razor, moving to your paper strop. If you feel you have it wired move to the leather but go slow. A little practice can save a lot in honing fees.... & leather.

'Strop Discipline '. The cheaper the strop the more likely you are to wreck it. Get a Kanayama, you can't fight strop acquisition disorder, can't be done. Believe me when you have a nicer than average strop, you take a lot more care when stopping........ Lol.

Try to find a good vintage one on ebay they can be found for 20 to 25 dollars if you are patient enough. If not patient do what Bobski says but practice on a dull butter knife first to get that muscle memory. Having something nice forces you to pay close attention if you value it. Knock on wood but I have not nicked any of my strops so I know you can do it too.

Have the same issue in South Africa, prices for strops off the chart for us, had a look at you tube University, with some offcut leather made two paddle strops, also scanning your local ebay sites, ours is bid or buy, picked up a reasonable strop - I am led to believe via other forums, an Illinois 127 horse hide for US equivalent $10

The Illinois 827 used to be the 'industry standard' to which all others were compared IIRC.
Too that end, I submit this item (I'm going to get one when I can afford it)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DYHMHQ...=2ZZ2NVELWG4C5

Have one myself. Is stiff but works well and the linen has an oxide impregnated

Id think in your location you should be able to find some tanned roo and cut your own. Dont take much to make a clip for one end to hook to the wall. Leave the end you hold with no hardware. Id think this would be a cheap start. But as others have said. Practice. Use a butter knife, everyday, slow and steady. This will get you doing fine on the flips in no time. Stropping isnt hard to learn. Light preasure and go slow. Its not a race. Speed comes naturally with practice. I can go prety quickly if i want but i see no reason to go fast. Its not like its going to save you a lot of minutes going fast.