Thread: SRD Premium I strop

I'm brand new to the art of straight razor shaving. I have a Hart razor incoming soon and I am trying to learn as much as possible on this forum prior to my first shave/blood bath

I've been reading up and down on this forum about strops and how to prep them and maintain them. The SRD strops come very highly recommended so I thought I'd go for a 3" Premium I strop.
The more I read about whether to prep them (and how) or not, the more confused I get.

So can anyone please tell me the following:

1. Is this a good newbie strop or is it for advanced users.
2. Will this provide good results on most razors or are there limitations (steelquality etc.)
3. Is this strop ready for stropping out-of-the-box or do I need to prep it with oil or paste?
4. How do I maintain the strop and if so, how often and with what?

Stipey

I have SRD1 leather on my SRD paddle and it's very nice leather. I'm sure the hanging strop is very nice

1. I'd feel confident starting out on SRD-1. It's a nice wide strip of leather and from my experience the leather has a very nice look and feel. Some recommend starting out on a cheaper strop to avoid damaging a nice strop but I think that advice is a little overrated. I think it's better to start on something that will work well. SRD1 would be a fine choice IMO.

2. I think any strop will work on any razor, provided a good quality strop and razor. You arent removing metal.

3. Ready out of the box. Consult the vendor if need be.

4. Lynn from SRD recommends rubbing the strop with your palm before use. That's what I do for my strops.

Michael

SRD does make a nice strop. I have one and I like it and would say the leather used is choice. They do cost a few bucks though and there is a learning curve on stopping. Even the most seasoned stroppers error and cut a beautiful peice of leather. The good thing about that strop is you can order a new peice of leather and keep the hardware. BTW good luck with that Hart. I hear only good things about them.

Put in an order for the Premium I strop and some other stuff and the next morning it was already shipped my way!

I've got a premium 1, among other strops, and it is a very good strop. The thing with strops is different leathers have different characteristics. Referring to what we call 'draw' which is the resistance you'll feel of the razor against the strop. For instance horsehide, depending on if it is treated by the maker, has little or none, while latigo (cowhide) has quite a bit. I find the premium 1 to be a happy medium between the two extremes.

The 1961 barber manual excerpt on honing and stropping, found in the SRP library help files here, is a PDF with some good stuff to go with. Particularly the suggestion to practice flipping the razor before you begin doing the back and forth motion on the strop. When you've got the flip mastered it will be easier to avoid nicking your new strop.

Many of us get small nicks on the edge of our strops as we are learning. I suppose many do not. One way or another if it happens don't get too upset. It is a common occurrence with people learning and you can always get a replacement leather if it bothers you that much.

You can't go wrong with the SRD strop. Do NOT treat it with anything, that will change the draw (the oil or conditioner is only used if the leather dries out after a few years). Just rub your hand on it every time you use it. Don't put paste on your strop either. You do not use paste everyday only when your razor starts to pull. But you do need to strop every day. So you need a leather strop daily and if you want to use paste later on, you will need another strop. Watch either the DVD from Lynn or you tube to see the correct way to strop. You can dull a razor as well as nick the heck out of your strop if your not using the correct technique. Remember to go slow and only use the weight of the razor. Be careful when you flip your razor that is usually where you nick the strop. I have a Hart razor also and mine came sorta shave ready. It worked a lot better after I honed it. If you are having problems with it then I would send it to SRD and have it touched up (their razors absolutely come shave ready).