Is this strop ok? P.A. Brown Strop from the shaver shop perth, western australia

Hi,

I'm Very new in the straight shaving game! In Australia, Particularly Perth there seems to be only a very few places who sell straight razors and the equipment to maintain them.

So, out of a little frustration i final purchased this P.A. Brown strop (for $120aud) :\ although i am a little worried that i will need to order something else online.

Its a hard brown leather, very thick and very wide although still quite flexible.

The stropping area mesures about 2.4" (60cm)x16.5 (42cm)

The top is very smooth and the back is smooth although there are small imperfections in the leather. like a ripple where the leather has been bent multiple times. Also if you thing this will damage my edge on the razor please let me know!

If anyone has one on here, (although i would doubt it, the one have have is the 11th one made according to the stamp) Please let me know your thoughts.

And if you think it would be a good or ok strop to use, what would be the best compounds and for what side etc

I will also post some photos for your judgment.

Thanks,
Chris
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Looks like a well made strop. I wouldn't know if the wrinkles will be detrimental. Depends on how bad they are. Try palm rubbing the strop a few times a day when you think of it. That may help to smooth it out a bit. The size is alright if by stropping area you mean between the handle and the hook. Width is the old barber's standard although nowadays many like a 3" (76mm) width. A matter of what you get used to. Welcome to SRP.

I rarely disagree with Jimmy, but I do this time. I don't think that is a well made strop because a $120 strop should AT LEAST have smooth flat leather, and neither side of your strop has that. I would exchange this strop for a better one or for a refund immediately.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

I rarely disagree with Jimmy, but I do this time. I don't think that is a well made strop because a $120 strop should AT LEAST have smooth flat leather, and neither side of your strop has that. I would exchange this strop for a better one or for a refund immediately.

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Same here, and for ther same reasons. Your edge will feel every one of those wrinkles in the hide and so will your face. Sorry Jimmy.

Thanks guys,

I took it back and swapped it for a tiny dovo strop for now, until I can get a decent one. I will have to get one online.

Just one last update for all the australian members out there.

The shaver shop contacted the manufacturer of this strop (P.A. Brown) and got back to me today regarding the imperfections.

Quote: "The manufacturer has advised that you can't make leather flat and all leather has defects, The manufacturer guarantees that the imperfections in the leather won't effect the strops performance" Pfft!

The lady then went on and advised they will only be stocking/selling this strop from now on....

I contacted The store located at Garden City to see if they had any other strops, the guy advised i may be able to locate a "Black beauty" in some of their stores although he couldn't guarantee there would be any left.

So In despiration I visited all of the other stores arround Perth with the hope they still had one in stock.... Unfortunatley all i was able to find were their new P.A. Brown strops and one more of the mini dovo strops....

Grrrr!

Any good suggestions for strops that are online would be greatly appreciated and if I do get one online is it likely to be damaged/bent in the post?

Thanks,
Chris

Don't use the shaver shop. They are usually about 50-100% more expensive than what you can get it elsewhere for. I can help with a strop, if you like, and might be able to point you in the right direction for other stuff. You might need to get it sent from the east coast, though.

I was in the local Shaver Shop today, just checking out what was in store as the last time they had nothing I wanted, and said it wasn't likely that they would be getting what I asked for, in. Lo and behold, everything I had asked about the last time I dropped in for a quick look, was in stock. These people seem to run a terrible business, but they do have some useful items like cheap shaving mugs. Re-supply seems to be an issue for them too. I spoke with the store manager to try and get a handle on this 'dodgy' service they offer. The man was apologetic about my experience with the store and asked me what sorts of things I, as a potential customer, would be interested in. I was up front and told him, very little of what is sold in the store is of much use to me as I shave with a Cut-Throat. He became quite animated with his interest in my choice of method and was full of questions. I happily answered all of them for him, in the hopes that he was actually going to look deeper into it, and not just glean facts and mix them with BS to pass on without actual experience.
I gave him basic information on how to hone and how to strop. He was of the opinion that the razor was held at a 5 degree angle for both those tasks and that stropping and honing had the edge leading. I think he saw me cringe when he mentioned that. I found out that all the strops they stock (in all stores is what I was alluded to believe) come from a Saddler working near Esk in Queensland. I was not overly taken with the strops and said as much. I stated that the bloke mustn't actually use a Cut-Throat himself or perhaps he thinks that knives and razors are treated the same. I told the bloke that I made my own strop and made them also for private sales.
I left the store after that as real customers were needing service, but I got the impression this bloke wanted to talk some more on the subject, so maybe I will go back and help educate the man.
I agree with Legion in that they do seem to be over priced,but then they are really just an outlet for electric razors.

What is the chance of finding a leather supplier in australia that supplies 8/9 ounce vegetable tanned leather with one rough and one smooth side?

Here in the states, you can get it on ebay for about $12 per square foot, and when it's fresh and undamaged, I have not been able to beat the edge I get with it with any strop. I don't know how long it'll be good, but my best edges thus far have been using it as a last step, completely clean and untreated, laid on top of a strop that has trouble getting my edges to the same level.

i.e., I take it and lay it on top of an inferior strop with regular tension for about 25 strops after I use the strop that's not so great (a 3" strop in my case).

at about $30 with shipping for 2 sq feet, you have tons of it to play with, and hopefully that would be unwrinkled stuff. For whatever reason, all three of my strops get less impressive as I add stuff to the leather to keep it soft, be it shaving soap, strop dressing or mineral oil. They all do OK, but the low price plain smooth vege tanned (cow) leather takes the edge over the top (as in HHT-5 level vs. HHT-2/3) and isn't something you'd need to rely on a shaving supply place to supply.

Any leather around in AUS? Should be some Kangaroo leather ;) Make a paddle strop if you can get some

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Originally Posted by DaveW

What is the chance of finding a leather supplier in australia that supplies 8/9 ounce vegetable tanned leather with one rough and one smooth side?

Here in the states, you can get it on ebay for about $12 per square foot, and when it's fresh and undamaged, I have not been able to beat the edge I get with it with any strop. I don't know how long it'll be good, but my best edges thus far have been using it as a last step, completely clean and untreated, laid on top of a strop that has trouble getting my edges to the same level.

i.e., I take it and lay it on top of an inferior strop with regular tension for about 25 strops after I use the strop that's not so great (a 3" strop in my case).

at about $30 with shipping for 2 sq feet, you have tons of it to play with, and hopefully that would be unwrinkled stuff. For whatever reason, all three of my strops get less impressive as I add stuff to the leather to keep it soft, be it shaving soap, strop dressing or mineral oil. They all do OK, but the low price plain smooth vege tanned (cow) leather takes the edge over the top (as in HHT-5 level vs. HHT-2/3) and isn't something you'd need to rely on a shaving supply place to supply.

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Pretty damn good, to answer your original question. Now call me crazy, but I do believe all natural leather has a smooth side and a rough side. Or hair and flesh to be a bit more accurate.
Here in Australia we get it from a Tannery...Just seems like the smart thing to do

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Originally Posted by kaivorth

Any leather around in AUS? Should be some Kangaroo leather ;) Make a paddle strop if you can get some

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You have a problem with hanging strops made from 'roo hide?! I think you might be picking a fight with myself and Legion if you want to try and tell us that hanging strops of 'roo hide are no good.


Sorry Gents, I just had to poke some fun. Maybe we just do things a little differently here...Buying leather off ebay...who woulda thunk it...Go to a bloody Tannery for that....Silly, silly people!:p


Mick

I think you're right that it's all smooth and rough. I've never gotten it otherwise, but it's nice to get it "plain" and very smooth on the smooth side.

Far as tannery goes, would love to find one around here that sells to the public where the gas wouldn't cost tons more than just getting two square feet at a time from ebay.

Haven't been able to yet, but buying from a tannery would be less risky - you could see the leather first and see how smooth it is. So far, I've been lucky, and have been using the leather mostly as stropping material for tools until a couple of weeks ago when I figured out that a fresh piece of it does a better job than my "regular" strops.

The tannery is definitely the best way to go, but if you don't have one within an hours drive or you don't buy in bulk to make it a worthwhile trip, I suppose you gotta do what ya gotta do.


Mick