Please recommend a beginner strop <$50

[Eudjinn]

Hey everyone. I'm looking for a recommendation - a decent beginner strop to start getting into straight shaving. I have been reading here and SRP and I'm not sure if the Filly is the right way to go or if a 2.5" would be better. I'm also unsure if I will stick with straights and/or nick up my first strop. I have gotten mixed results when polling what strop to get - some say get something super cheap because you'll wreck it; others say get a modular strop that can be replaced "cheaply" when I wreck it (too pricy for me).

So, I'm looking for your suggestion on what you think is right for me in the sub $50 category in terms of a beginner strop. I'm thinking 2.5" if that helps. I like the Ambrose "veinte" but there does not seem to be a price listed.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Troggie]

The strop I use is this one http://www.etsy.com/listing/3637418...search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade

It has served me well for almost a year and I have not had any issues with it. I know there is a gentleman selling "big daddy" strops on ebay for around 27 dollars that have both leather and linen but I do not know the quality of those.

 

[ouch]

You can start a WTB thread- maybe you'll get lucky. Whenever a member decides that he's going to stick with straights, he tends to acquire more upscale products, and may be willing to part with his beginner's straights, stones, or strops.

If you're worried that the Filly is 2", you'll note that many will recommend this width as ideal for learning a proper x-pattern. Good luck.

 

[davecmu]

You'll knick it. There's no getting around it. Even veteran guys knick their strops sometimes.

If it's going to be your first "everyday", the Filly is a great way to go. Seriously, it's $20 (you spend more on a one-time dinner at a classy joint like Applebee's) and tough as nails. Unless you're going to go to a 3-inch strop, you'll still have to strop in an X-pattern, so there is effectively no difference between a 2.5-inch and a 2-inch strop.

The Filly is long and tough, with a thick hide. The back comes pasted with some Cro-Ox paste so you won't need a linen component. WHEN you knick it, it is easy to repair and can be pumiced and sanded quite a bit due to its thickness. When you finally get around to getting a nice, nice strop, you can keep the Filly for travel and you won't cringe or think twice about putting in a suitcase and risking it getting fondled or lost, or you can PIF it and get another newbie started on the right path.

For $50, you can get TWO Filly's and keep them in rotation.

 

[honed]

The Filly is the right choice, no doubt!

 

[Eudjinn]

Wow I'm surprised at all the love for the Filly here. I feel as though the fine folks at SRP were very adamant about something "higher end" and that a better strop will make the experience much better from the get go. This is interesting... Of course, the Filly is nice in terms of the price for sure.

 

[LarryAndro]

I bought a Filly awhile back, long after I left the newbie ranks. Even though it is cheap in price level, I can tell you that it is a quality strop for newbies and also for anyone experienced in stropping. You will do fine with it as received. After a few uses and with some light oiling, it only improves.

 

[kg4ghn]

Wow I'm surprised at all the love for the Filly here. I feel as though the fine folks at SRP were very adamant about something "higher end" and that a better strop will make the experience much better from the get go. This is interesting... Of course, the Filly is nice in terms of the price for sure.

My beginner strop, like most others, looks like crap now. Sure I sanded it down and took the nicks out but it still looks beat up. I didn't want to do that to an expensive strop so I bought a cheap one. It worked fine, and now I have a better strop that still looks good.

Plus I think the filly comes with the backside pasted so you can touchup the edge on your straight if you need to.

 

[Eudjinn]

You'll knick it. There's no getting around it. Even veteran guys knick their strops sometimes.

If it's going to be your first "everyday", the Filly is a great way to go. Seriously, it's $20 (you spend more on a one-time dinner at a classy joint like Applebee's) and tough as nails. Unless you're going to go to a 3-inch strop, you'll still have to strop in an X-pattern, so there is effectively no difference between a 2.5-inch and a 2-inch strop.

The Filly is long and tough, with a thick hide. The back comes pasted with some Cro-Ox paste so you won't need a linen component. WHEN you knick it, it is easy to repair and can be pumiced and sanded quite a bit due to its thickness. When you finally get around to getting a nice, nice strop, you can keep the Filly for travel and you won't cringe or think twice about putting in a suitcase and risking it getting fondled or lost, or you can PIF it and get another newbie started on the right path.

For $50, you can get TWO Filly's and keep them in rotation.

I'm not sure what the pastes are for (CrOx)? Do I strop on leather then paste or paste then leather before each shave or is the CrOx only used when the edge is no longer refreshed by plain stropping on leather? Is CrOx basically used to delay the need for honing?

PS: I'm very close to buying the Filly... someone better come along and give me a good reason not to!

 

[kg4ghn]

I'm not sure what the pastes are for (CrOx)? Do I strop on leather then paste or paste then leather before each shave or is the CrOx only used when the edge is no longer refreshed by plain stropping on leather? Is CrOx basically used to delay the need for honing?
PS: I'm very close to buying the Filly... someone better come along and give me a good reason not to!

There's your answer there. Pastes are just used when needed to touchup the edge.

 

[Tony Miller]

Wow I'm surprised at all the love for the Filly here. I feel as though the fine folks at SRP were very adamant about something "higher end" and that a better strop will make the experience much better from the get go. This is interesting... Of course, the Filly is nice in terms of the price for sure.

Start with the Filly as it is a full sized strop, will do the job and priced right. You could substitute an inexpensive Dovo but it will be much smaller and still cost more. A basic Fromm/Illinois would be an easy to find alternative too depending on the delivery time for the Filly but still a bit more expensive.

Tony

 

[Eudjinn]

Filly has been ordered. Thank you everyone very much for your advice and responses! As with all of shaving, there is always an opportunity to upgrade later on once you are sure that you are going to stick with it.

 

[Neurotopia]

For the price, you can't beat the thing. You made a good choice.