Thread: Why not a old belt?

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Another thing I have heard with regards to belts is just because they are leather does not mean that they are a single strip of leather (like a strop is). Some belts, maybe only cheap ones, are sort of like reconstituted leather. That stuff has bits of leather and something to bind them together, and perhaps other random stuff thrown in. That can be very bad for a razor.

The razor below was stropped on an apparently smooth looking belt.
And here is the owner's post deciding to not use a belt again
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...tml?highlight=

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think maybe the easiest way to describe a belt as a strop is just ask the reverse, can you use a Strop to hold up your pants????
Why yes you could in a pinch and a bit of re-fashioning, but it isn't ideal

Fashion renovations by Gssixgun!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think maybe the easiest way to describe a belt as a strop is just ask the reverse, can you use a Strop to hold up your pants????
Why yes you could in a pinch and a bit of re-fashioning, but it isn't ideal

It would look like miniature weight belts!

Originally Posted by Goingst8

Can I use a old leather belt for my first strop. Im getting this wet shave down with my DE and trying to move over to the straights very bottom dollar. So my plan is to pick up a straight on the classifieds and use a old leather belt till. I can upgrade to a SRD paddle and new straight for my b-day in a couple mouths. So can it be done. Also what's up the the poor man kit I have seen at whipping dog any good?

An old belt is going to be cracked, warped and stretched if yours is anything like my old belts.
Some of my old belts are full of sand dirt and grit from hiking in the desert and working
the the garden which is bad for a razors edge. A decent new leather belt and a worthy
strop are about the same price give or take.

I saw someone offer you a cosmetic second -- take him up on it!

I will skip discussing alternative strop material like newsprint and
cotton denim. Many folk make a paddle strop with leather from
a shoe repair shop or Tandy. I have also heard good things from the dogs"
customers.

When you do get your razor do not strop it for the first shave perhaps two.
It is too easy for a beginner to dull a new razor on a strop. Check with
the seller... almost all will have honed and stropped the razor already
so you only need to rinse under hot water and shave.

When you do, strop slow and deliberately. It takes some folk months to develop
muscle memory that permits even medium speed AND speed
does not help the razor.

Have fun...