Thread: Buying first stop...help me on my quest.

Many people say not to fall in love with your first strop because you'll end up cutting it learning how to strop.

Would you consider a paddle strop? It's much easier to learn on and it's convenient for travel. The main downside is it doesn't hang right beside your sink. The main upside is you probably won't hack it to pieces learning how to strop. I haven't...yet.

I would consider a paddle strop. However, if I learn on one, will it make it easier to learn on a regular strop? Or will I still have the same learning curve I have now?

I don't know the answer to that question as I'm satisfied with my paddle strop. I guess you'd have to ask yourself if you need a hanging strop for any particular reason.

I get the feeling from watching videos that a hanging strop is faster.

Paddle strop is easier to start on considering you don't have to worry about how much pressure you need for a hanging one. Paddle strop just a small amount of pressure, you know it will be flat and straight cause its a paddle strop. I just like them more now too.

That is true, and I may buy a paddle strop later on. But, I wanted to learn on a hanging strop because if I can master that, I can surely use a paddle strop correctly later on.

Don't buy anything marked B&B. Really very low quality, crap.

I'm currently eying the SRD modular paddle Strop. Anyone have any experience with it? I'm new to straight edge shaving, but I'm not going back to cartridge (I can guarantee it, my skin won't let me) - and I'm no stranger to knife care (I've also been preferential to a Sapphire stone to finish off an edge, and never tried a leather strop).
Or what about a Roo strop?
Looks like I'll be spending 60-90 for the strop...

I do not have an SRD paddle, and I won't comment about that one specifically. I will share with you my preference for hanging strops over the paddles I've tried. For everyday maintenance, I think you'll be much better off going with the Premium IV. I've had two, and they are 2 of my 3 favorite strops. I know the SRD Paddle to be excellent by reputation, but I think it's more of a tool for the finishing stages of razor sharpening than for everyday maintenance based on my experience with other paddles and also what I've been told by others with experience with SRD's paddle.

Originally Posted by richmondesi

I do not have an SRD paddle, and I won't comment about that one specifically. I will share with you my preference for hanging strops over the paddles I've tried. For everyday maintenance, I think you'll be much better off going with the Premium IV. I've had two, and they are 2 of my 3 favorite strops. I know the SRD Paddle to be excellent by reputation, but I think it's more of a tool for the finishing stages of razor sharpening than for everyday maintenance based on my experience with other paddles and also what I've been told by others with experience with SRD's paddle.

Thanks for that little bit of experience. The only reason I was leaning towards a paddle was because I move back into my dorm in a few weeks, and I'm not sure if I'll have a place to hang it from. But, hopefully the friend I'll be rooming with (who turned me onto Straight Edge shaving) will be able to figure something out.

What about Kangaroo hide? Anyone have any experience with that? I was thinking of buying that one from SRD, then buying a cheaper replacement leather at the same time. I would swap them out as soon as I got them, use the cheaper leather to get practiced, then switch to the Roo.

Avoid eBay like the plague. Its just far too easy to pick up something rubbish and chuck the money away on something you cant use. Once you've spent a bit more time here and got some good kit you'll know what to look out for and the markers of rubbish kit. As a rule "shaving" kits (apostrophes deliberate because you cant actually shave with them) from eBay like Zeepk, B&B and so on are useless and poorly made.

I'd recommend one of the SRD strops, whether one of the Premium line or something like the red or black latigo. I have the black latigo with webbed fabric and its fantastic. Not too pricey to buy, does a great job and has the benefit of being modular so if you do nick the leather you can replace it for a pretty small outlay. That would be my pick.