New strop fastening and maintenance questions (yeah I'm a newbie)

How are you guys fastening your strops? I was thinking of just screwing a closed eye screw into the wall stud but I'm not sure if the wife will go for that. I was also thinking of hooking it up to the door knob somehow. From what I understand I want to keep it parallel with the arm I'm stropping with right? (I have never stropped a razor and plan to practice with a butter knife a little first) Then I thought about using the towel rack but I'm not sure it would hold up and it would put the strop on a 45 degree angle. I could also fasten it to my tool box but then I'd have to go downstairs to the garage just to strop. Is there any advantage to stropping with your left hand versus your right hand? I'm left-hand dominant but due to a childhood accident I became ambidextrous so it shouldn't matter what hand I use to strop.

I've also read about conditioning a strop with neatsfoot oil, rubbing your hand on it, using lather, and not doing anything to it. What should I do, if anything, to this new as of yet unused strop I have? It's a 3 inch SRD leather/linen strop. The only thing I'm really concerned about is damaging it since I've never stropped before but I plan on stropping in super slow motion til I'm comfortable. Oh ya, today will be my first shave with a straight razor.

What do you guys think?

For hanging strops, I bought a pair of decorative brushed nickel hooks from Target for maybe $10. One is at my preferred stropping level, the other up higher as to keep my little boy's greasy fingers off my strops. Some here add a piece of rope to the hardware at the end of the strop and then loop it over the doorknob when needed. Left hand, right hand, strop with which evers feels the most comfortable. Just rubbing the strop with the palm of your hand should be enough to condition it. Hope this helps.

I keep my strops in a walk in closet off the bathroom. It has that white wire shelving system that allows me to hang them with carabiners at waist hight. And as previously mentioned, you can use some rope, or some leather(rope) and hang them from the doorknob.

SRD has fine leather strops. I have several. The only thing I ever do is rub them with the palm of my unwashed hand. You want to get the natural oils from your hand in there. Soap, Neetsfoot oil, etc..will/may change the draw of the leather. There are members here that use soap or lather on their strops. I'm sure the primary ingredient that works in the soap is the lanolin and any other conditioners, depending on the soap. Just remember, once you treat it with that, it cannot be undone. I'd use the palm of my hand first, if down the road it's not enough for you, you can always condition it then...

I keep my strops on a door. I tapped up the middle hinge pin an inch or so and put the D ring around that and it works perfectly for me. As to maint some neatsfoot a couple times a year is all I do. I live in low humidity area and the air sucks the moisture out of everything including me.

I tie mine to whatever is available using either leather thonging or something like a shoe lace.

James.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

I tie mine to whatever is available using either leather thonging or something like a shoe lace.

James.

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What if the dog runs away?

They tend to stay put once you staple them to the wall....

James.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

I tie mine to whatever is available using either leather thonging or something like a shoe lace.

James.

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I just knew you were a leather thong guy.

:nj

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Some here add a piece of rope to the hardware at the end of the strop and then loop it over the doorknob when needed.

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That's how I "hang" my strop in hotel rooms.

The strop doesn't have to be parallel to anything. Tie it to the doorknob, pull it (roughly) horizontally with your "off" hand, and hold the razor in your "good" hand.

At home, I screwed a hook (something fairly pretty) into a stud, at about eye-height. I can pull the strop down and out from the wall. This is not rocket science.

. Charles

I like the wall. The strops are in a little nook off the living room. That way SWMBO doesn't have to see them.

Attachment 91134


There's a few more in there now, but this is the basic set up.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and your picture Maxi. For the time being I went with the door hinge pin idea from thebigspendur and conditioned the strop with my hand as zib and ReardenSteel mentioned. Thanks for the comic relief too :)

Just sort of hang um where I can hang um.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...hangstrops.jpg

I asked the same question once and the guys here were very helpful. I ended up going with the closed eye screw into the wall stud. It's solid, and you can put it at any height you want. You'd be suprised, my Wife didn't say anything about it. Also, if you remove it, it will only leave 1 small hole that would be easy to plaster over if necessary.

I loosened one side of my towel rack and slid the ring onto the bar and put the rack back together.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

I tie mine to whatever is available using either leather thonging or something like a shoe lace.

James.

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Heathen! A 'roo hide strop should be well hung (with 'roo hide lacing of course). :)


Mick

I am a minimalist. I have tried several mounts over the years in several homes. Here is my current setup behind the bathroom door. I hang a very fine microfiber cloth for wiping the blade and protecting the wall. The coat hook is mounted ~waist high directly (with long screws) into the stud. Wall anchors will wiggle out over time. I always rub my strop with my thumb heel and fingers before stropping (boy that just doesn't sound right) :rofl2: and once a year I may apply a thin layer of Fromm's or other appropriate strop conditioner. Less is more when it comes to applying oils to the strop. Good luck and welcome to the journey.

Attachment 91465

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Just sort of hang um where I can hang um.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...hangstrops.jpg

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Very impressive setup. Why so many? How do you decide which one to use? Which one is your favorite?

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Originally Posted by MickR

Heathen! A 'roo hide strop should be well hung (with 'roo hide lacing of course). :)


Mick

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Never fear, the leather thonging is kangaroo. Shoe lace is more for when I am away and have forgotten that my strop needs to hang when I pack (which happens a lot actually) :).

James.

I found this leaf hook at a blacksmith shop while on vacation.

Tim

Attachment 91503

I tied it to the door knob with a handcerchef.