No prizes for best answer:
- A Miller 3.0" Wide English Bridle Leather & Genuine Linen Hanging Razor Strop, or
- A Straight Razor Designs 3" Premium Horsehide Strop.
Miller or SRP?
GO!
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No prizes for best answer:
- A Miller 3.0" Wide English Bridle Leather & Genuine Linen Hanging Razor Strop, or
- A Straight Razor Designs 3" Premium Horsehide Strop.
Miller or SRP?
GO!
Tony Miller or Neil Miller?
and even suggesting a competition is against the SRP rules (dont ask me how I know!)
Neil. Competition? What competition? Doesn't matter anyway, got the Neil Miller one. If the strop is as nice as it looks in the photos I'll be well pleased...Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycey
I'm in a straight razor buying frenzy at the moment...
I haven't had a SRD strop, but plenty of others... I think 7 non Neil Miller strops over the years, but I think the three Neil Miller strops I've got now are the best out there. The "only" :) strop I'm a little interested in is the Kanayama strops, but I have a hard time imagine them being better than my Neil Miller cordovan strop ...
Well picked, anyhow Carl, prob either way you would have gone.
I think the Neil Miller will age well, like me. It already looks like it was made about a hundred years ago, like me...
I dunno, Neil's pretty rough around the edges and doesn't look like 25 anymore ... Ohh, you where talking about the strop :D
I have a 2,5" English Bridle/Linen from Neil, it's a great strop that just have become better with use, and the linen is superb!
It's hard to go wrong with either one:)
I have strops from both of them, and can attest to both being stellar products!
Congrats on a great new strop:)
Well, I'm no spring chicken that's true enough - but you can go off some people suddenly, Mikael... :)
My wife claims she doesn't want a spring chicken as her man ... and she doesn't have one either, Neil :). I feel like 100 yrs old right now though, just finished splitting billets (1/3 of a large tree I took down earlier, it's hard labour to have a vaccation ;)).
Tell me about it! My last three have been nightmares! Fell off a wall and ended up injured for the rest of the holiday on one, had no heating and the multi-fuel stove wouldn't work properly on another and I caught a cold, and the latest one I caught a cold again, couldn't be bothered with the fire and had to resort to spending all day in the pub to keep warm (is that a plus point, though?!). Can't wait for next trip...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikael
Spending the day in the Pub what a tragedy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Miller
I hope to have such tragedies in future!
Days, kind sir, days...Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin103
Doing the King George ramble, no doubt?Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Miller
Sounds like a great holiday to me.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Miller
That's how I spent my first year of retirement -- I think. I don't really remember :beer2:.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin103
CARL! CARL MALO SCHNEIDER! STEP AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD! THIS IS NOT A DRILL.Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
Hee hee, I remember when you first posted here, and strenuously (STRENUOUSLY) insisted that you'd only ever need three razors. We all thought you were so cute.
Seriously, happy shopping. I look forward to seeing your latest scores. What are you looking for in your current frenzy?
The only obvious answer is one of each ..... and then add more of each as time goes by ..... :rock:Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
I was only in there for 6 hours one day, 13 hours the next and 11 hours the next (got up late for some reason?), so I didn't manage the full non-stop 58 hours of talking utter nonsense like dear old King George. I have noted a distinct downhill trend after 4 hours, though, followed by the irritating phenomenon of knowing one is speaking nonsense but unable to do anything about it at around the 6 hour mark but this gets made up for to some extent by being almost incapable of speech after 9 hours or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
Swings and roundabouts, as they say...
JimmyHAD has the correct answer. SRD have a fantastic line up of strops. Just in hanging strops you can range from horseleather to Roo to bison and on and on. They are all very functional and made to last forever.
Neil Millers strops reflect a level of craftmanship that may be foremost in the world and he has all the stropper prefered
leathers + some of the finest natural linen available. Truth be told you cannot have to many quality strops, quality straight razors, shaving creams, aftershaves and hones. You need to be completely submerged in straight razor shaving to attain
enlightenment! ; p
Yes, I remember those young halcyon days, in the old school yard, full of innocence, when I needed only three razors...Quote:
Originally Posted by roughkype
A very nice Swedish fellow who frequents this site and drinks a lot of coffee and is a very good friend has made available to me a couple of Swedish framebacks in original condition and another Swedish razor (shoulderless) with very nice ornate scales. I really only 'needed' one other razor to satisfy my new 'limit' of six, but couldn't resist the idea of three framebacks (I got a Klas Törnblom of him a while ago) in my new three razor case (to match the other three razor case).
So the 'frenzy' has resulted in three razors, one strop, Pashana Bay Rum hair tonic, a three razor case (the case is from Executive shaving, I got the last case about a year ago, I'd highly recommend these cases) the bowl and jug and stuff and the side table to use as a 'shaving stand' or 'wash stand'. That's almost 600 bucks worth of stuff, which is a lot for me. This is a 'tax time' splurge for me, which is when I generally go silly buying Egyptian cotton shirts made in Pakistan, very nice leather boots, fountain pens, etc...
It only comes 'round once a year, the rest of the year I'm on an 'allowance' from SWMBO so must be sensible...
Sounds like a lot of fun, Carl. Glad to hear you're treating yourself well.
Put up a pic of your new blades when you get them. Oh, and get yourself a nice fisheye lense so you can show us a picture of your entire collection!
Oh Carl, I thought I was in remission!! You got me looking at Neil's strops and now I'm sunk!! Gotta have one!! :gaah:
Good luck with your choice.
Regards,
Howard
Yeah, cool aren't they? I like the old world look of them. I haven't actually SEEN one of course, or USED one, so, umm, yeah, Your Mileage May Vary...
I received my strop last night, and used it for the first time this morning. In comparison to my Dovo, this thing is massive. Using it is completely different for me than using the Dovo; the only other strop I've ever used. It has more of a draw than my Dovo, too. The Dovo is no longer in the best shape, it may need a clean or something. The wife uses hair spray in the small bathroom where it hangs. This is a really nice piece of equipment, it makes the Dovo look like a toy.
The Neil Miller strop will be used only on Sundays when I shave in my bedroom.
Attachment 104599
Carl --
Your audience would really like a detailed post-stropping report on your new acquisition's properties and capabilities. :D
I know you're just teasing, but...
The size difference is ridiculous; I'm really not used to a strop this size. I even found it hard to use any sort of 'X' stroke at all. In fact, I was saying on another thread that I don't actually use an X stroke; I use just one diagonal of the X (top left to bottom right, bottom right to top left).
The draw is certainly heavier than the Dovo. The hardware on this strop is solid brass I think; not that crappy stuff that LOOKS like brass; real nice brass that'll tarnish nicely. I'll have to resist using 'Brasso' to polish it. The rivets and screws are really solid and nicely done. I really like the leather embellishments on the ends as well as the stamp. The screw heads line up nicely.
Using this strop is completely different; as I said, to using the Dovo. The linen has a completely different feel than the cotton on the Dovo; in fact, through the razor, the linen feels almost harsh. I was a little worried. It seemed to me that if I rolled the edge on that lined I'd be stuffed.
I did my standard 30 on the linen, which would clearly have had more of an effect than the Dovo, just by virtue of the Dovo being so much shorter. What I mean is, a lap on this strop results in the razor being in contact with a surface by about 30% more than on the Dovo.
I then progressed to my standard 70 on leather. I could feel the difference immediately. It felt to me like the razor was dragging. I've been straight shaving for a little over a year, with just the one strop. Suddenly, I understood 'draw' so much better.
It probably sounds really silly, but I have never been any good at 'handyman' type stuff. My father is amazing with what he can do; he's a carpenter by trade, way before 'Trade School' and 'Qualifications' and 'Occupational Health and Safety Standards'; he's German, 85; a craftsman really. He always seemed to be able to do anything. Upholstering, building sheds, concreting (the old fashioned way; without a mixer), making jewellery boxes with in-laid parquetry, rebuilding engines...
I, on the other hand, sucked at everything until I joined the army. I was good at it (peace time army - 85 to 95). That made me feel better, but it still sucks that when I break the pull cord on the lawnmower I have to buy a new lawn mower. Anyway, what I'm getting at in a long-winded way, is that to me, shaving sort of gives me some of those skills my farther has. Especially in regards to honing. And also stropping. What's the next thing anyone ever says when you tell them you shave with a straight? It's SO often; "have you got one of the strop things where you do the [insert movie quality stropping motion accompanied my a 'wishhhh-wishhhh-wishhhh' sound] thing?". For me, maintaining a razor is as important as using it, it gives my a sense of 'worth'.
I wouldn't recommend this for a beginner. But I can only speak for myself. I would rather reserve something more unique than a factory strop for when I knew what I was doing. I think this is a strop more for someone who knows how to strop. My Dovo wasn't a cheap strop to buy, and it's a good, nice strop. They both cost be roughly the same. But, for a beginner, I think the Dovo serves well, and is more 'forgiving' and 'easy to use'. I actually think the Neil Miller strop in the hands of a raw beginner might be a bit iffy. A bit like learning to shoot with an M60 rather than an SLR. I'm using 'quotes' way 'too much' lately. I've been at trouble at work for 'ranting' in emails lately.
I'm a bit of a dissident. So I've developed a habit of using 'quotes' and smiley faces Attachment 104601. You can say whatever you want given the right number of 'quotes' and smiley faces.
You can say their policies are 'unwise' Attachment 104601.
When you say it like that it doesn't suggest they're complete morons, just that they're not as wise as you; and should and counsel from you.
Of course, the wise would know to completely and utterly discount MOST of what I said above. The wise would have honed in on the fact that I buy a new lawnmower when the pull cord breaks. The wise would know that I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about, am not to be trusted, and should take up knitting...
Oh, I forgot, the result? The razor (Burrell Top Flight) felt lovely. Smooth. I only did one pass. I only NEEDED one pass.
Attachment 104600
Carl, I wasn't jesting -- this is exactly what I wanted to know, because I think I'll be getting another strop in the near future. THANKS! :beer1:
No probs. I'm sure there's a lot of nice strops out there, but it's really nice to have this one. I know you're addicted to stropping, and I may be soon too. I'm going to go and strop now, see ya.Quote:
Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus
[EDIT] just finished stropping my four razors and realised that I really only need 50 laps on the leather with this, I think...
Looks like a nice strop! I still like my CowHide strop:) Not looking fit a new one any time soon!
Carl, which leather is that? It's a beauty!!! I'm on his waiting list and I know it'll be worth it, but it sure plays havoc with my instant gratification. :needcoffee:Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
Howard
My best friend was very mad when he wore out the mittens he had made of horse hide with liners knitted by his Grandfather. He wouldn't stop wearing them though because they were made to be used.Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
His Grandfather learned to knit when he broke his leg in a logging camp around 16 years of age. While he healed they had to make him useful so they taught him how to knit.
If you can strop and/or hone a razor let alone shave with one you can fix a pull cord!
In Brotherhood,
tim
Howard, it's English Bridle.
Parker, thanks. It took me a year before I bought me second.
Tim, actually, I do (or did) know how to knit. Parts of school holidays were spent knitting scarves for some reason. Also flying kites, visiting museums, eating sandwiches by fountains...
My School holidays were spent working on the farm. That is what we did.Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
My father milked cows in the morning so we didn't have to work before school but we did it at night.
I miss that! I had to leave the farm to make a living so here I am.
I wish that I could teach my children the lessons that i learned.
Tim
Deleted and reposted in new thread.
