Thread: Strop for a newbie

Hi

What would be some recommended strops for someone new to straight shaving? Keep in mind I am trying to resist getting an AD.

So I would like to get something pretty good, but I have also heard it is inevitable a newcomer will cut their strop. Is that right?

Thanks

RupRazor has some relatively affordable strops. The $20 Filly is a good first strop. The more expensive strops such as those found at Straight razor Designs have $25 leather replacements for when you cut your strop irreparably. And yes you will probably cut your first strop.

bought a dovo best quality for my first strop. Its hamburger now. So yes you will cut it

Originally Posted by jpm7676

bought a dovo best quality for my first strop. Its hamburger now. So yes you will cut it

I beg to differ. Not all newbies cut the strop. I never cut my strop. Not even once. I've put nicks that do not effect damage at either extreme edge from the way I flip the razor (too much force)... but that still happens. I started on a fairly expensive strop too. The key is to practice before hand, and take it slow/careful.

As for beginner strops, I will ALWAYS recommend either the SRD Premium IV in bridle, it's just my favorite hanger, or, as of late, the SRD Modular paddle which is, hands down, the greatest razor related thing I own and have ever touched. I love this thing.

The reason I support getting a more expensive strop first: If it cost you more, you're more likely to take your time and baby it. If it cost you five bucks, meh, if it cost you 50-100, you do NOT want to mess up. It helps. Also, these two are built modularly, so if you do have a slipup, you can just buy a new replacement leather pad/magstrip. It'll cost you 25-35$ and you'll be back in business.

REally, it's down to personal preference between a hanging strop and a paddle strop, but the paddle just comes with so many different materials and does so many different functions... I love the thing and can't recommend it enough.

Good luck, if you have any questions about strops -or anything else, really- feel free to PM me.

Cheers,
Jeremy

Originally Posted by ShavedZombie

I beg to differ. Not all newbies cut the strop. I never cut my strop. Not even once. I've put nicks that do not effect damage at either extreme edge from the way I flip the razor (too much force)... but that still happens. I started on a fairly expensive strop too. The key is to practice before hand, and take it slow/careful.

As for beginner strops, I will ALWAYS recommend either the SRD Premium IV in bridle, it's just my favorite hanger, or, as of late, the SRD Modular paddle which is, hands down, the greatest razor related thing I own and have ever touched. I love this thing.

The reason I support getting a more expensive strop first: If it cost you more, you're more likely to take your time and baby it. If it cost you five bucks, meh, if it cost you 50-100, you do NOT want to mess up. It helps. Also, these two are built modularly, so if you do have a slipup, you can just buy a new replacement leather pad/magstrip. It'll cost you 25-35$ and you'll be back in business.

REally, it's down to personal preference between a hanging strop and a paddle strop, but the paddle just comes with so many different materials and does so many different functions... I love the thing and can't recommend it enough.

Good luck, if you have any questions about strops -or anything else, really- feel free to PM me.

Cheers,
Jeremy

I agree with you on the English Bridle (haven't tried the modular strop).

The Filly is a great strop. It's $20 and very easy to sand out the nicks. And when you nick it you won't drop a brick like you would when you nick a $100 strop.

Originally Posted by ShavedZombie

I beg to differ. ...
The reason I support getting a more expensive strop first: If it cost you more, you're more likely to take your time and baby it. If it cost you five bucks, meh, if it cost you 50-100, you do NOT want to mess up. It helps.
Cheers,
Jeremy

This is a good point. You just aren't as invested in less expensive items. I used to lose my cheap sunglasses and pens on a regular basis (like weekly). So I bought some fairly pricy sunglasses and a couple of nice fountain pens. I have had them all for years.

Originally Posted by Lazarus

RupRazor has some relatively affordable strops. The $20 Filly is a good first strop. The more expensive strops such as those found at Straight razor Designs have $25 leather replacements for when you cut your strop irreparably. And yes you will probably cut your first strop.

+1 on the above.

I just set out to price and assemble my own strop with leather from
Tandy and a local cobbler. When you add in hardware to hang it
and an impossible to find quality linen canvas back you will be hard put
to end up with a price less than you see from our sponsors. In fact the
more I priced and inspected leather the better my opinion of ALL the strop
vendors out there became.

The SRD replacement feature also lets you swap out one type of canvas
for another. And while most beginners do not slice a strop irreparably
some do so this is a bonus to factor in.

The CrOx on the back of the Filly is a bonus. A jar of your own CrOx will
cost most of the price of the strop by itself and since a single jar lasts +55
years this is a good thing since you will not need to refresh the CrOx for a year
or two anyhow.

My recommendation start with a Filly it will last years.
True you will want a spiffy fancy one some day but the Filly
will fill in the roll of a pasted strop at the time you embark on
honing your own.