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I'm looking at getting a new strop and I've seen quite a few on eBay for fairly cheap. Has anyone tried any of the buy it now strops from there? If so I'm wondering if they're decent and worthwhile. I'm not wanting to spend a lot on a strop just because I anticipate a nick or two out of carelessness.
Most of the cheap strops on Eboy are just that. Buy from a known source. You can get a vintage strop and if you are careful get a really superior strop for a song. Some elbow grease and you'll have a strop that will last all your life.
You get what you pay for, so buyer beware. My first strop years ago was from the bay at a great price. It has been in the landfill for quite some time. Check the vendors here and I'm sure you'll find one within your budget. On a side note, when comes to straight razors, shaving, stropping, or honing, the word carelessness should not even be in your vocabulary. :)
I have a star shaving strop and an SRD Premium I. The Star strop was my first and is still a wonderful strop in my opinion. You could do worse than to start with one of these.
Hey Spendur, I googled the difinition for "mogwai". The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 (Jyutping: mo1 gwaai3) (Mandarin Chinese: 魔鬼; pinyin: móguǐ) meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".
I didn't see "Old" before devil anywhere...:rofl2:
I say carelessness only because I am still a bit new and I have put a few small nicks into my poor mans strop. I will either look for a vintage or check vendors here for something.
I am just trying to keep my shaving expenses lower to keep SWMBO happy.
Star shaving has a $13 "bench strop"...that's a good inexpensive one to learn on. Don't go vintage unless you know what to look for and don't mind doing some work to get it up to snuff.
When I was ready to move on from my poor man strop (I nicked it up pretty well while first learning) I was not able to find many people who would recommend the various ebay offerings so I decided to stay away from that. I went with the star shaving english bridle leather. I've been very happy with it and at < $30 I won't be devastated if I do some damage to it.
Thumbs up to star shaving. I got a balsa bench with chromium and a felt with diamond. Puts a wicked good edge on!
If you are a bit of tinkerer there is another option.
I recently bought a 3 in X 50 in leather strap from
Tandy Leather Factory - Natural Cowhide Leather Strap 3" (7.6 cm) x 50"
for 20 bucks to my door. (There is a easy to find 10 dollar coupon that nullifies their shipping + tax.)
I cut a small 8 inch strip and put it on a hard block of wood.
I loaded it with oil and a bit of diamond spray.
I stropped my razors and I can say it strops as well as any strops I've used.
(And I have 42 inches of strops left over!!!)
Just an option for you to consider.
Most of my strops are of the DIY variety. But I own a strop from WhippedDog, several from Star Shaving, and a Premium 1 from SRD. I like and still use them all.
Good afternoon everyone.
The problem with the e-bay is that you do not know who is behind. I have noticed some scams there, my brother almost get it too (an alienware lap top of 8gb ram for 250 USD and new, come on). Even if you get the product, sometimes the performance is not what you have expected. That is the problem there, always is not what you expected only you see it when you receive it. I suggest to look to your neighborhood, and see if you can do your own stroop to begin. I tought it will be difficult, but you can do it if you look for it.
I did not knew that there is a leather store like 10 blocks from my house, and 3 blocks before that there is a store where they sell industrial products, including chromium oxide. Only I need the pins and the circlets to hang the stroop. I have not came out because I am actually ill (chickenpox at 23 who will know) so I can not go out from home, but you can. The first honing of one of the disposable blades was with wet sand paper from grits 320 to 2000, and newspaper. I did not shave with it yet (because the chicken pox) but I believe it is sharp enough, my girlfriend take the shavette and touch the blade by accident, she did not felt the cut but there it was, when she cook and take some lemon juice she felt it. I believe the blade pass the accidental thumb test. I am aware that a professional honing with professional tools will be better but really it is my first honing and I believe I will improve the honing with the time so I am proud for it.
The only detail with the newspaper is that the blade looks I do not know, like dirty in the bevel, I suppose because the ink it has not that shinny bevel as with the sandpaper or the honing shine, but that is it.
Good Luck with that stroop.
another affordable, but good strop is a "Filly" from www.ruprazor.com This was my first and it works well, the SRD strop is a very good strop/investment as well as if you nick up the surface you can simply buy replacement strops & re-use the hardware. I have "read" here on the forum that the Star Shaving strop is pretty good, but no experience there.
I've been using the SRD 3" red latigo strop I bought with my straight, but now have a Star Shaving "Big Mama" English Bridle strop on its way to me. I'm also intrigued by the SRD Premium I strop and may order one soon.
It never ends, does it?? (Sigh....)
I went ahead and bought the big mama strop today. I can't wait for it to come and thanks to everyone for their recommendations
I think you'll like it. Mine came Wednesday while I was at work. The draw is much lighter than that on my latigo strop, and I've found this helps me maintain a lighter touch while stropping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cavere
Old? Methuselah is old. I'm just getting started.Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeSomebody
You do get what you pay for. Get an SRD or Tony miller.
I would stay away from ebay strops, the cheap ones are exactly that and pics wont tell the whole story on the vintage strop. I have bought several vintage on ebay and been disappointed every time. When I do buy a vintage strop, i buy one from an antique store or estate sale, this way I can look at them and handle them.
God loves you Spendur! Your glass isn't half full...it's overflowing. (BTW, I didn't see any "devil" denial in there...LOL)Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur