Thread: Illinois 827

I just got this strop. I can't say I'm very impressed. Fittings seem cheap and the leather has a surface like a cheap suede carpenters apron. Pretty fuzzy. As to the "linen", well it's not linen or any kind of fabric at all it seems. It's a stiff but flexible piece of white plastic which imitates a "finely woven linen surface". Reminds me of a child's toy. I can't say it's made a difference from my current strop which is a Dovo russian/linen strop. Frankly, the leather may provide some benefit to my razor but I am worried that the plastic "linen" will do it damage. Comments please.

Back before the straight razor community got spoiled by SRD and Tony Miller strops Illinois was the standard bearer, so there is little question that it will work for you. The model that you purchased, the 827, is referred to as "Russian leather" and does have a different texture than other strops.

I found this link, it might help to answer some of your questions....

Ignatius:
The Illinois 827 is an old barber strop that is a hard worker. It's had a good following through the years. Yes, of course, the fit and finish of the 827 are not top line, but the strop is good for the price. Try rubbing the leather side with the palms of your hands daily (before you take a shower) to condition it. The hard linen will always stay that way, although it might soften a bit with time. The 827 and the 127 are, in away, legendary. Work with it, because it will eventually work for you.

I have a new one too. In fact, I also just got an older (not too much older, since it has a barcoded inventory sticker on the back of the metal piece) strop of the same model, and it is very much the same with the difference that the surface of the leather is not ribbed, and the font used on the "Imperial Russia" blurb is different. Many members speak highly of these strops. This type of Russian leather has a much higher draw than the Jemico/Dovo tan Russian does.

Thanks for the reply Ryan and Obie. It certainly does have a different texture on the leather, which is rough from what I'm used to as Russian. As to the linen, the current "linen" certainly does not remind me of an "old barber strop". I'll try some of the suggestions in your replies, though.

The Linen breaks in, and gets "softer" with use, The nap get smoother with palm rubbing,,

I've been away from the forum for a while, but I've used a pumice stone on my 127 to smooth the surface then I used saddle soap to clean and condition the surface, after it was dry, I rubbed it with neatsfoot oil and it broke it in real nice. As for the linen I have not had much luck breaking it in to this day. It appears to be impregnated with a plastic of sorts and is very stiff with not much of a linen fiber. I tried rubbing a bar of soap on it as the old barbers used to do, but all that did was make a mess. So I use the linen on an old strop I have.

My #827 is my second favorite strop (ok - maybe third!).
It's a workhorse, and does what it's supposed to do.

I just posted on another thread - because you're stropping on the bottom grain it will have a different sound in both directions. That is normal.

Thanks for that Damon. I'm with you on the "linen". I'd advise tossing it and replacing it if I could. I am very skeptical based on my own usage, notwithstanding the support given by others, that such a "linen" does the job. It's simply too hard.

I found that the leather itself it does break in very well just by gently flexing it without the need for oils.

I'm curious about the pumice though. Wouldn't it leave a residue of heavy pumice grains on the leather? I suppose you would have to be pretty careful in cleaning it. Finally as to the pumice on the leather, the leather on the 827 has a large amount of fuzz. I mean lots not just a very light fuzz. Is that what your 127 was like? I'm curious because I have been trying to reduce my fuzz by using sandpaper to no avail. It just makes the problem worse. Perhaps I could shave it off. lol.

Originally Posted by Ignatius

Thanks for that Damon. I'm with you on the "linen". I'd advise tossing it and replacing it if I could. I am very skeptical based on my own usage, notwithstanding the support given by others, that such a "linen" does the job. It's simply too hard.

I found that the leather itself it does break in very well just by gently flexing it without the need for oils.

I'm curious about the pumice though. Wouldn't it leave a residue of heavy pumice grains on the leather? I suppose you would have to be pretty careful in cleaning it. Finally as to the pumice on the leather, the leather on the 827 has a large amount of fuzz. I mean lots not just a very light fuzz. Is that what your 127 was like? I'm curious because I have been trying to reduce my fuzz by using sandpaper to no avail. It just makes the problem worse. Perhaps I could shave it off. lol.

Now that you have sanded it you are going to get fuzz (or the nap) to come up the next thing to do is use saddle soap and a little water on it to moisten the fibers then use a beer bottle to slick the fibers down. While the strop is damp with the saddle soap, rub the side of the bottle on the strop to slick down the fibers.