Thread: Have yet to purchase first strop

Hey all. So i have yet to purchase my strop yet even though I have completed my first shave with my new razor. So I am at odds as to were to even start considering all the nylon webbing, foam, the different leathers one could use, paddle vs hanging. Just seems to be so much info.

I went to a place in my neighborhood that handles very fine Japanese cooking knives and they have a double sided leather paddle strops that they use for the knives there which are the sharpest kitchen knives I have ever had the graces to hold. Any reason why one of these units wouldn't work?

I appreciate any advice

My first strop turned out, for me, to be a good choice. It's the "Illinois 127" and cost about $35. The leather I especially liked, but the fabric was good too. It's marketed by Fromm. Yes, I nicked it quite a bit, but I've repaired it along the way and I still use the fabric as a pasted strop, and the leather is still worth using too.

I "graduated" to a SRD Premium I with their standard fabric recently and I'm so glad I didn't start with that. Each nick would have broken my heart! I bought another SRD P1 used on this site, with a pasted fabric strop, and that one I keep in my shop for honing.

For a starter strop I think maybe there are better strops than the Illinois 127, but it did the job for me.

You don't want to get emotionally attached to that first strop!

I have used a paddle strop since I started shaving w/ a SR @ 3 yrs ago & it works great. Japanese blades are known for their keen edges. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't work although I don't claim to be an expert. How much do their paddles cost anyway?

Julio

I would recommend a Poly or Nylon strop. Any fabric store or camping supply will have 2in flat strapping material for just a couple of dollars.

I really like the fine weave Nylon, similar to seat belt, but softer.The coarse weave works well also. The very fine weave will burnish an edge as good as leather and quicker.

More importantly it will allow you to learn the stropping technique without slicing up expensive leather strops like a ghetto pimp.

The nylon/poly strops are almost impossible to cut or nick, even stropping edge first, at least with the fine weave.

Try the Nylon/Poly for a month or two, or until you don’t hit the strop edge first, then buy inexpensive Leather because you are probably still not as good as you think you are, before you invest in a nice wide artisan strop.

I think you will still like the Nylon/Poly and finish on leather.


Enjoy

Marty

Check out the strops at thesuperiorshave.com as well as other sources. Their
"Walkn' Horse" line has some beautiful offerings.

RupRazor - The Filly

Enjoy!!!

It's 20 bucks even. Great to learn on, best material than any strop at its price. Even has a pasted side which other strops at this price don't even have. Get one, you won't regret it

Originally Posted by Angelous

RupRazor - The Filly

Enjoy!!!

It's 20 bucks even. Great to learn on, best material than any strop at its price. Even has a pasted side which other strops at this price don't even have. Get one, you won't regret it

Heck. I'd like to have one of those.

Just don't spend a fortune on the first one. When I started it took a month to turn the razor properly and as a result I have nicks & cuts at each end. I sand them down and treat the strop with olive oil but it's not pretty. It's an Illinois #206 (2 Strap: Leather & Linen) BTW, $35CDN, cheaper in the US I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Angelous

RupRazor - The Filly

Enjoy!!!

It's 20 bucks even. Great to learn on, best material than any strop at its price. Even has a pasted side which other strops at this price don't even have. Get one, you won't regret it

Free shipping in the US but $14 to ship to Canada. Seems a little high.

+1 on the Philly strop. I have seen lots of people here say that it was there first and only strop! Super fast shipping as well.