Thread: Everything but the strop

I finally purchased all my shaving gear for my starting kit... Except the strop. I know I know it's one of the most important pieces of the shave kit but after Christmas the budget is quite a bit tighter than before. Overspent this year...again. So I've read wikis and other posts mentioning people making their own homemade strops so I figured necessity is the mother of invention, although I'm not inventing. So I've grabbed a belt without rivets or divots and I'm looking to use a piece of denim for the other side. Should I glue them together or mount them to a paddle? Should I prep them somehow, or does a hanging strop work better than a paddle... No idea, any suggestion and tip are appreciated thanks again.

Use the denim first and then the leather and you should be fine. As for wether it should be a hanging or a paddle strop, that would depend on the resources available since this is obviously a child of necessity.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Use the denim first and then the leather and you should be fine. As for wether it should be a hanging or a paddle strop, that would depend on the resources available since this is obviously a child of necessity.

So just keep them as two separate pieces? Ok. Now since the belt isn't the width of the razor obviously, this is where the diagonal or figure 8 type stroke comes from correct?

+1 to nun2sharp's info. I have used a belt to make a paddle strop before and it turned out good but haven't used one as a hanging but it would be pretty much in ready to go form if that is what you wanted. As for the denim I did make a hanging and a paddle one and I liked the hanging much better. Just follow the instructions on the wiki and you will be good. Also you don't need a canvas strop or similar. I don't use one I just use leather.

Also if you are strapped for cash here some good low end strops I have both and used them as my every day strops.

http://www.whippeddog.com/-----$19---Poor-Man-Strop-Kit-with-Leather-Strop/

The owner of this site is Larry Andro on here. The kit is nice cause it comes with a pasted basla strop to get you started and help maintan your razor. This is where I got started with real straights.

I also just bought this one from star shaving supplies. 2" Leather Strop and have been real happy with it.

Ive looked into the PMSK. Getting ready to pick one up, just using the belt as an emergency I guess, wanted to know the process. Larry is a member here right? What's his screen name? It's crazy how many high quality dealers and craftsmen there are on this sight. I'm still amazed every time I log on. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by Castel33

I also just bought this one from star shaving supplies. 2" Leather Strop and have been real happy with it.

I would assume its the same star supply on ebay. I use his 2" strop and it appears to be working just fine.

Hey Josh Larry's screen name is LarryAndro.

I would assume its the same star supply on ebay. I use his 2" strop and it appears to be working just fine.

Yeah it is the same company I found it on ebay while looking around for a second strop. For the price I was willing to take a chance on it.

I have the Big Daddy 3" strop from Starshaving. It is a great strop, and the cost cant be beat. I have been using mine for a few months now and is breaking in wonderfully.

All awesome ideas. Thanks for the input. I will look into starshaving as well. Thanks again everyone

For now, I would recommend putting the denim on the back of the leather strop.

This is only because control is important. A long piece of unsupported denim would not be my recommendation.