Thread: using a crap strop with a good razor

in the mail is my new dovo, my first decent razor. i have a made in pakistan strop with two or three edge nicks in it from practicing with the also made in pakistan razors that came with it. now will touching my nice razor to it be a bad thing or with good technique is it ok? i will be buying a nicer strop very soon but the razor will definitively arrive first. we all know ill want to use it immediately.

I would keep using the old strop until you are no longer putting nicks in it. It will not hurt your new razor at all and will save your new strop from nicks.

I guess the worse that could happen is that your razor may need to be re-honed. I've read vintage write ups about strops where they say that even dust on a strop can ruin the edge. Then again, a low cost strop would be best until you stop slicing it up. Many people here on SRP started with an Illinois strop. They are still available at a few years ago only sold for ~ $35 new. Positive feedback is better than none. The strop I used was vintage and came with some razors I purchased at a local auction. The strop was old but was well taken care of and in good shape.