Thread: Please recommend cheap but good beginner strop

Hello,
I just purchased my first razor today on eBay so I guess I need to get a strop as well. The concensus seems to be that beginners are rough on strops and should get a cheap one to start with. Can someone please tell me where I can find such a strop? I see some for like $10 on eBay, are these any good?

Thanks!

No - Don't buy off e-bay until you have been doing this long enough not to ask these questions

Google Illinois #827 should be about $30 for a linen and leather strop from a good company...They have others with different leathers and different sizes too but that one I have used for many years and in the under $50 market it is tuff to beat it...

In the above $50 there are tons to Drool over....

WE don't recommend those ebay strops.They're usually made to look good enough to make you buy them,but don't have the necessary treatment or finish to get the proper "draw"on a straight razor.We do recommend this Filly from fellow member KenRup'

http://ruprazor.com/store/index.php?...mart&Itemid=32

Originally Posted by BGAndrea

Hello,
I just purchased my first razor today on eBay so I guess I need to get a strop as well. The concensus seems to be that beginners are rough on strops and should get a cheap one to start with. Can someone please tell me where I can find such a strop? I see some for like $10 on eBay, are these any good?

Thanks!

BGAndrea,

IMHO KenRup's Filly starter strop can't be beat. On the other hand, here is a link to another vendor that provides at least two choices in relatively inexpensive leather strops.

Barber & Straight Razor Strops

If you can afford it, believe me you should buy the strops like those mentioned above. A good strop with adequate stropping distance to the leather strap. If you are not altogether made of money, and even $30 sounds steep, I've stropped before on a $2.99 piece of leather bought in the leather working center of a hobby store - with good results. (Just took longer than it would with a longer strop.) I bought the smooth leather that is treated well, is smooth, and intended for leather working with tools.

I went with the Illinois #827. I thank all of you for your help.

When I was young and foolish (57), I bought and e-by strop for $20. It was pretty bad. I can only imagine a $10 strop would be half as good. Tony Miller's practice stop is a good bet.