Beginner Strop Help

[eneyman]

Hey guys I recently got my first straight, a Dovo 5/8 Special tortoise and the only strop I currently have is a knives ship free/bark river double sided paddle with green/black compound loaded. I have yet to strop with the green side on my new razor but plan to see if that will bring the edge to life before each shave. If not, do you think any of these strops sold by star shaving supplies will be a good start because I need the cheapest option that works well:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Str...554?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ca2eaf42
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Str...144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ca2e4818
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Str...876?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ca2e5e7c

Will one of the basic models without the white linen surface be okay? If I go with one of those, would I need to strop on the fuzzy side first before the leather?

Thanks for any help

 

[casus4844]

Go with the cheapest option. Everyone will tell you this. Get the cheapest one or get the poormans kit over at Whipped dog( it the only thing I have experience with as far as vendors are concerned). Also there are tons of other who sell cheap high quality strops. As a beginner just get the cheapest one. Hell just use newspaper . A strop is just piece of leather. Buy a piece of leather and cut it to your liking. Some take more time to manufacture but for your sake just get the cheapest for now.

 

[smalltank]

watch the BST or place an ad in it WTB "beginners strop"

 

[Wid]

The Starshaving strops are perfect to start with. I don't think the felt secondary strop adds anything so I'd go for the plain leather to start. Plus; there is no need to use pastes before every shave.

 

[eneyman]

Is there any difference between the burgundy english bridle and the brown/tan colored one? I notice the brown on his ebay shop has sold alot more..

 

[Slash McCoy]

THE CHEAPEST you can get, for your first strop. Then, after a couple of months, consider upgrading to the star shaving "Big Daddy". A tremendous value, unbeatable in that price range at that size.

Personally, I like to give my razors a dozen laps on pasted balsa after every shave, in addition to the normal 4 dozen on the Big Daddy before the shave. This keeps the edge going for a LONG time without honing. It is well worth the small expense and smaller effort to do this.

So, I have to enthusiastically recommend the poor man strop kit for your first setup. You get a cheap hanging strop and also a pasted balsa block, for one pretty darn low price. Yes, you can use newspaper, and I recommend that even though the poor man is cheap, still consider saving it for like the 4th or 5th stropping, and use newspaper for those first few stropping sessions. If you want to use newspaper instead of the poorman, you will want a balsa block, 3X1X12, pasted with .5u diamond or CrOx on one side, maybe 1u diamond, and .25u or .1u diamond on the other side. Larry's setup is CrOx one side, iron oxide on the other, and it will work, and be cheaper and easier to get together since you get the whole kit at once from him.

 

[Doc226]

I have to enthusiastically recommend the poor man strop kit for your first setup. You get a cheap hanging strop and also a pasted balsa block, for one pretty darn low price. Yes, you can use newspaper

What he said

 

[Slash McCoy]

Is there any difference between the burgundy english bridle and the brown/tan colored one? I notice the brown on his ebay shop has sold alot more..

For the beginner, no difference. The only material difference between leathers is in the draw of the strop, and since you have no preference yet anyway, that just doesn't matter at this stage. Plus, the draw is largely determined by what you dress the strop with, how much, how, and how often. For your first strop, price should be the determining factor. Width is a secondary consideration, and possibly length, and thickness. Don't worry about the handle type or the hardware , etc., or lack thereof. The first strop is a sacrificial lamb. You will likely HURT that poor strop in your first month so it is practically a throwaway item. If your beginner strop survives the learning process, after you upgrade you can still keep it for a travel strop or for backup or for introducing some new newbie to straight shaving.

 

[brother cavefish]

star shaving is very affordable and USA made can go wrong, never complaints--- third picture is the best for starter, then big momma or daddy, you will figure out your needs and wants in time- me i started with a whipped dog poor man and then made my own- i almost went with the big daddy from star but i did not feel i needed the felt strop-, there all good , i like making things for myself

 

[ouch]

I never saw a better starter strop than a Tony Miller "second". I'm not sure if he still offers a practice strop as an add-on when you buy one of his gems, but if he does, you get the best of both worlds.

 

[Clovis Man]

Showing my ignorance here -- which side of the strop do you use? The smooth "finished" side, or the rough side???

 

[cb91710]

Showing my ignorance here -- which side of the strop do you use? The smooth "finished" side, or the rough side???

Both <snicker>

No, really... Some will use the suede side in the final stages of a honing session, but normally, you will just use the smooth side. I've never used the suede side... I move directly from pasted linen to leather.