Cheap leather strops from eBay?

Since I'm still new to straight razor shaving I still nick my strop now and then, which already has been badly nicked several times and thus preventing a smooth stropping.

I was looking on eBay and came across several cheap strops that I was thinking that I might use as an replacement until I get better and don't nick it anymore and then invest in a better one.

How are the cheap eBay strops? Should I just stay as far away as possible or are they decent? Was thinking on either one of these for example:
Strop one
Strop two

The B&B is crap, stay away
Other one is unknown to me... But that dont mean its usable

here are 3 of the cheapest sensible new strops i know of on ebay

http://http://cgi.ebay.com/Leather-S...item1c18df978d
http://http://cgi.ebay.com/JEMICO-16...item5aded6ee7f
http://http://cgi.ebay.com/ILLINOIS-...item27b8d6a56b

The first one will be perfect I think because then I can replace the strop I nicked and use the same holder.

IIRC B&B strops aren't great. B&B here is not the same as Badger and Blade, another wet shaving forum. The other one is brandless.

Check out the Filly from Ruprazor if you want to use the strop on a blade you use to shave with.

If you are looking for a practice strop to practice with a razor you do not intend to use on your face you can choose any cheap strop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PMH

Strop two

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by janivar123

The B&B is crap, stay away

---

+1
I agree with janivar.

Your "strop two" (B&B) is really crap.
It cannot be used as a rasor strop in any way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by janivar123

here are 3 of the cheapest sensible new strops i know of on ebay

http://http://cgi.ebay.com/Leather-S...item1c18df978d
http://http://cgi.ebay.com/JEMICO-16...item5aded6ee7f
http://http://cgi.ebay.com/ILLINOIS-...item27b8d6a56b

---

These links don't open :mad:

Try the vendors at SRP, garaunteed quality.

+1 on the SRP idea. Look, if either one of those strops were worth a dam I promise you the seller would be bragging up a storm about the pedigree of the maker, or the materials, or the reputation, whatever. Instead, you have a scant description that it may be cowhide or maybe oxhide. I'm not necessarily saying ox hide strops are bad, but if the seller doesn't even know what he's got how are you supposed to make an informed decision?

Do yourself a big favor. Buy from a reputable seller such as SRP and spend a few dollars more for the guaranteed piece of mind. Please don't tell me you can't afford the difference in price. We all know that's just an excuse. Sorry for getting on my soapbox like this, but I've made the same mistake in life that you're about to make and it reminds me of an old axiom pertaining to buying: The sting of owning an inferior product lasts long after the thrill of buying it on the cheap.
:soapbox:

Of course I can afford an expensive strop and I will buy a proper strop once I know I probably wont nick it anymore.
Right now it just feel stupid spending a lot of money on something I will probably destroy the first time I use it.

But at least I now know that I should stay away from the cheapest ones. I think I might buy this one that has been recommended to me, not to expensive and it's in the UK so no extra taxes for me in Sweden.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kees

IIRC B&B strops aren't great. B&B here is not the same as Badger and Blade, another wet shaving forum. The other one is brandless.

Check out the Filly from Ruprazor if you want to use the strop on a blade you use to shave with.

If you are looking for a practice strop to practice with a razor you do not intend to use on your face you can choose any cheap strop.

---

I'm in the same boat as you--just starting to learn. The Filly was highly recommended to me, so I ordered one myself and am waiting to get it. $22 including shipping is pretty good, although I'm sure it would be more to Sweden :)

The dimensions say it is a little over 1 foot long. Just throwing that out there...:hmmm:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PMH

Of course I can afford an expensive strop and I will buy a proper strop once I know I probably wont nick it anymore.
Right now it just feel stupid spending a lot of money on something I will probably destroy the first time I use it.

But at least I now know that I should stay away from the cheapest ones. I think I might buy this one that has been recommended to me, not to expensive and it's in the UK so no extra taxes for me in Sweden.

---

Please accept my apology. Of course your logic makes sense. Please allow me to make a suggestion: Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales the item goes for $19USD. I have no idea how that translates with currency exchange, customs, etc. It's called the poor man's strop kit. It's the one I started with and in fact I still use the leather strop as a travel strop and still have and use the pasted balsa strop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PMH

Of course I can afford an expensive strop and I will buy a proper strop once I know I probably wont nick it anymore.
Right now it just feel stupid spending a lot of money on something I will probably destroy the first time I use it.

But at least I now know that I should stay away from the cheapest ones. I think

---

You may be able to sand you current stop and continue to practice with it until you purchase a better strop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by newb

You may be able to sand you current stop and continue to practice with it until you purchase a better strop.

---

That's what I did. It's messy and can get frustrating, but it works.