Thread: Noob with a few questions

Ok the pile of information is proving to be a little bit overwhelming. Let me try to get some of my questions answered.

I see leather strops, canvas strops, hanging, hand held, some that use a paste and some that do not.

Correct me if I am wrong but what I picked up is that I need a plain leather strop as well as a canvas one to keep the edge on my razor. Where does the paste come in? Does any strop use paste or only some? Do I need one that uses paste?

Basically I want to know the bare minimum that I need to get myself started.

I apologize for asking all this when there is a million threads on stroping, I just see too much info at once to pick out the bare minimum.

Thanks,

Dan

Welcome, to SRP!!!

Let's see....bare minimum...

1 A truly "shave ready" razor
2 A Leather strop
3 A brush
4 Some shave soap

That's it. You won't need that other stuff for a while if you get a truly "shave ready" razor.

Usually hanging strops come with leather and linen/canvas/cotton/seat belt type of strop. People apply CrO or diamond spray on the backing if they want, but I think its more common to have a separate leather /wool felt paddle strop with CrO or diamond spray.
The pasts are used to touch up the blade when even regular stropping does not align the edge for comfortable shaving.

Basically, all you need is a leather strop for using prior to your shave. Personal preference is a big thing in here and you will see many opinions regarding the use of a second strop of either cotton, linen, webbing or felt. Those that use the fabric, will usually use around 20 strokes prior to 50-60 strokes on leather. There is also personal preference to consider regarding whether to use a paddle strop or a hanging strop.

Pastes or sprays are not required for daily stropping and are typically used to refresh a razor when it just starts to dull a little. Typically pastes are abrasive and untreated strops are not. The pastes can usually be used on the back of a leather strop, on a separate leather strop or on most of the webbing second strop material. It can be used on the backs of these only to preserve the main side for daily use if that is your preference.

My preference for a strop is 3 inches in width and a leather that is not slick or that does not require significant break in. I prefer a leather that is not stiff or thick. I like a medium draw that really has a positive effect on the razors edge. For a new person, being able to get a comfortable shave will be the key.

You can purchase a 2 inch strop if on a budget and the main difference is the need to do an X type or Angle type stroke to make sure you get the entire edge on the strop with each stroke. The key here as well as with a wider strop is to develop a rhythmic stroke where the spine and the edge are on the leather during the stroke. Don't lift up at the end of the stroke or roll the razor over to change directions on the edge of the razor. Roll it over on the spine. Do not try to go too fast like you see the barbers in the movies do.

the search on stropping would be recommended as would be checking out the wiki.

Have fun,

Lynn

To just get started with a strop I would definitely recommend Rup Razor's Filly. It's a 2" strop that's only 20 bucks, and it comes with some paste on the backside for touching up a razor that's starting to dull.

One of the things that makes this strop so popular is if you are a true newbie you are bound to cut it up at first. The Filly is a good product, but if you do cut it you won't be crying over the strop you just spent a bundle on.

Once you get the hang of it you can either keep using the strop, nothing wrong with that, or graduate to something wider at Straight Razor Designs or one of the other fine dealers here.

If it's not cut up too bad you can use the Filly as a travel strop or put some paste on it an use it for touchups.