3" Strop for after WhippedDog strop is beat.

[steelwindmachine]

I'm not ready to invest in a TM, Kana, Scrupples or other high end strop and likely mess it up. I'm looking for a reasonably priced strop that I can still learn technique on without crying if I nick it.

Maybe a SRD? Any advice appreciated!

 

[Kentos]

I think all those "lower end" strops still for go 50-60 bucks I think, while a TM starts at 75.00 I believe.

I think Illinois strops are a bit cheaper IIRC. You can also try making your own too.

Nicking a strop is a fact of straight shaving life IMO, and the longer you shave the more comfortable you are stropping and depending on the type of person you are, the more likely a nick.

 

[rockviper]

Try Star Shaving. Some nice strops at great prices. I'm using the cheapie 2" chestnut and liking it quite a bit. Also had the 3" Big Daddy but it was a little too big for my kamisori.

 

[Kentos]

Ooops! Didn't realize you wanted a 3"er. Starshaving is a good choice from what others have said.

 

[mwhitcraft]

I have the Star Shaving Big Daddy strop and I love it. At $39, you can't beat the price.

 

[steelwindmachine]

Maybe this will be a good option...

http://shop.starshaving.com/product.sc?productId=51&categoryId=2

I checked the WhippedDog strop too, looks nice, but $20 more expensive...

 

[rockviper]

Maybe this will be a good option...

That's the one! They have a few different flavours of them.

 

[Fish Slayer]

There are a couple of vendors that make their strops with end pieces and a separate piece of leather for the actual stropping surface. Some offer a replacement for the stropping section for a reasonable price. The Whipped Dog Richman's Strop is one of these. I don't know why these are not more popular with starting shavers. They are more expensive than a poor man's strop, but only slightly more for a replacement leather than a new poor man's. It is a way to get into a better made stop without the fear of making an expensive mistake. Besides nicks can usually be repaired. (don't ask me how I know).

 

[steelwindmachine]

Functionally, replacment-wise, how is the Whipped Dog Rich Man's strop different from the Star Shaving 3" black latigo?

 

[morganjg]

I have the Star Shaving Big Daddy strop and I love it. At $39, you can't beat the price.

Works great and looks good too. +1

 

[jpcwon]

I too will put in a vote for the Big Daddy.. the Big Daddy English Bridle is a great strop for the money IMO. I own several higher end strops, and can honestly say that the Big Daddy isn't far behind at all...

 

[Fish Slayer]

Functionally, replacment-wise, how is the Whipped Dog Rich Man's strop different from the Star Shaving 3" black latigo?

It looks like the leather of the big dady strop is folded over the D ring and fastened with Chicago screws or rivets. The Rich man's strop has leather end pieces on either side of the leather stropping surface. He sells a replacement leather. If you cut you strop, you unscrew the Chicago screws, remove the damaged strop section and replace with the new one at a fraction of the cost of a new strop. If you cut the Big Daddy strop beyond repair, you will probably be buying a new strop.

Some people have stops for a lifetime, so this might not be a big deal, but If you are scared of cutting a strop while learning, and you want something a little nicer than a poor man's strop, this might be an option to consider. I have seen other vendors offering a similar design and replacement components also.

 

[cb91710]

I went from an Illinois to a Mountain Mike's 3" and back to the Illinois... then ultimately to the Kanamaya and Tony Miller (of which I now own 2 of each).

I simply could never really get the feel for the big 3". If you think that it's "better" because it spans the entire blade width... and I thought that to be the case... it is simply not true.
The wider strop increases draw, and it is more prone to cupping (even with D-Ring or other hardware handles), so an "x-stroke" is still required to ensure that the blade is evenly stropped.
Add to this that there are quite a number of blades that are longer than 3" (I have at least 2) and I really see no purpose for the extra 1/2".
Also, IMHO, the draw is so "off" that it actually increases the risk of nicking it.

The 3" was relegated to travel status for a short time, but it is now in the "stuff I shouldn't have bought" pile.

 

[Brianskeet]

Strops are a YMMV kind of thing. Some like them narrow, some like them wide. Different leathers,,,, different finishes. All a very personal experience. I still enjoy stropping on my 3 inch Mountain Mike's latigo and have two of them that I have no plans on ever getting rid of. My 3 inch Walkin Horse is a pure joy to use and gets the call more and more often of late. For a strop that repairs easily after a nick I would recommend something in latigo. Easy to make a nick completely disappear

 

[shakin_jake]

It looks like the leather of the big dady strop is folded over the D ring and fastened with Chicago screws or rivets. The Rich man's strop has leather end pieces on either side of the leather stropping surface. He sells a replacement leather. If you cut you strop, you unscrew the Chicago screws, remove the damaged strop section and replace with the new one at a fraction of the cost of a new strop. If you cut the Big Daddy strop beyond repair, you will probably be buying a new strop.

Some people have stops for a lifetime, so this might not be a big deal, but If you are scared of cutting a strop while learning, and you want something a little nicer than a poor man's strop, this might be an option to consider. I have seen other vendors offering a similar design and replacement components also.

~~~the first strop I bought, approx. 2 years ago and cut the livin daylights out of it, I'm still using to this day...it's a Walkin' Horse English Bridle. If you cut it, and you will don't think the strop is useless, you can repair it and it will strop as well as the day you bought

the main thing is you want to remove the flap of leather you created with the slice or cut you errantly applied. When this happens, here's what you do-

cut the flap off using a new sharp de razor blade. you are going to be left with a divot in the leather, no getting around it, and it wont affect the edge on your blade when moving over it so long as you remove the flap

so you have the divot, it looks like a crater. take a small piece of medium to fine sandpaper and smooth the cicumference of the divot so they're beveled

now take a dab of neatsfoot oil and oil this area because it's dry from your sandpaper touch up

that's all there is to it, just don't over oil

I have a bunch of divots in this strop and it does not negatively effect the razor's edge one lick

As to your original question Dan, which strop to buy...i guess it depends on how much money you want to spend. i wouldn't spend over a hundred dollars on your first strop, and that said, maybe dropping $40 for a Big Daddy is all you need. you've heard a lot of guys here say the Big Daddy is only one notch down from one of their top of the line (read expensive) strops they also own. I have a $200 shell strop and as nice as it is, I know what they're saying and I'd have to agree entirely, especially you just starting out



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[shakin_jake]

I went from an Illinois to a Mountain Mike's 3" and back to the Illinois... then ultimately to the Kanamaya and Tony Miller (of which I now own 2 of each).

I simply could never really get the feel for the big 3". If you think that it's "better" because it spans the entire blade width... and I thought that to be the case... it is simply not true.
The wider strop increases draw, and it is more prone to cupping (even with D-Ring or other hardware handles), so an "x-stroke" is still required to ensure that the blade is evenly stropped.
Add to this that there are quite a number of blades that are longer than 3" (I have at least 2) and I really see no purpose for the extra 1/2".
Also, IMHO, the draw is so "off" that it actually increases the risk of nicking it.

The 3" was relegated to travel status for a short time, but it is now in the "stuff I shouldn't have bought" pile.

~~~I have to respectfully disagree with some of what Rich is saying here. Yeah, some 3" strops will cup, I know, I have several that have, but my 3" Walkin' HJrse English Bridle strop has never cupped one iota, and that's a fact Jack

Jake truism number one-...not all leather is created equally

i menitoned earlier in this thread the Walkin' Horse was my first strop...I've had a bunch and kept most since. For awhile, I was totally hung up on using 2.5" strops. wouldn't use any of my 3" strops to save my life. Then, some months back, I had an epifiany, I started using 3" strops and haven't looked back. When I get off my butt I'm going to list at least one of them (2.5") for sale in the BST as I'm just not using the 2.5's anymore, and it's a fine strop...steerhide, pristine herringbone linen component, mericun made

I used to think guys that used 3" strops so they wouldn't have to do an x stroke were lazy. Now that's all I use

Strops are very personable. You may buy one, think you can do better and go through 5 or 6 and realize that first one is where it's at. Or it could be the 2nd or the 3rd

For Dan and deciding what he should do for his first, that's a tough call as there are so many good strops out there to choose from, but having said that, my vote would be for the $40 Big Daddy because I have never heard one bad word said about them, and if you really cut it bad but like their leather, buy a replacement piece for it and keep on using it

The one caveat going with the Big Daddy for me would be using the felt component...I've never stropped on felt before. I like my linen components, so ask these guys that use the Big Daddy felt strop and have also used linen if having only a felt component besides the leather is a deal breaker or not. I'm gonna guess they'll say no



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[steelwindmachine]

Jake,

As always, I appreciate your input and will more seriously consider the Big Daddy once I'm ready to pull the trigger. For the time being, I've found some ease and substancial reduced irritation in a EJ 89L. Having shaved with the '11 R41 for months, switching to the EJ was really easy. Made me realize I need to be even more focussed with the R41 and I really need to devote some time to getting a routine and technique for the straights.

I'll get there eventually, just learning from everyone's experience as I go.

 

[LegionPrime]

I have a poor mans strop myself and think I want a 3" for my first "nice" strop. I can do the X pattern, but I find myself concentrating more on that X pattern than I do on the blade. I'll probably go back to Larry for his Rich Mans strop in a few months.

 

[Penguinetti]

If you just want to practice, use a sheet of newspaper. Doc22 showed this video for me...


"I would suggest using a newspaper, works great and if you cut it no big deal.


http://youtu.be/lGVNbMvvOJI"

 

[California Cajun]

I recommend the Big Daddy from Star Shaving as well. I have a Tony Miller strop and kangaroo strop, but didn't want to use them until I got my stropping act together. The Big Daddy I have is English Bridle and I want to say it cost me $37.99. What's great about it is that I ruined my first piece of leather learning how to strop and was able to purchase a replacement piece of leather for $25 shipped. He uses screws so you can swap out the leather. This strop doesn't take a back seat to anybody in my opinion. It is also a longer piece of leather than is sold by other manufacturers. It comes with a felt strop as well. The only disadvantage is for those who prefer handles. His comes with D-rings. He might sell other ones with handles but I'm more than satisfied with the one I have.