Shave ready but no strop. What to do?

[K.T.]

I think I know the answer to this question, but thought I'd ask anyway, being a noob to straights.

I ordered a shave ready razor from one of the fine vendors in the vendor's corner. It's a reconditioned vintage that's supposed to be shave ready out of the box. The problem is, I spent a good chunk of change on my GF's birthday present, so I won't be able to spring for a strop until next month.

I'm itching to try it out once it gets here, but that's a bad idea without a strop, isn't it? Should I just wait?

Thanks,
K.T.

 

[gaj90027]

You can improvise a strop until you have the cash to buy a leather one.

See here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=142617

 

[Luc]

If you have a leather belt (smooth, not rounded, holes, stiches, etc) you could always use that.

You would always use around 10 pages of newspaper flat on a table but this is not nearly as good as a real strop.

 

[mainaman]

you can strop on your palm, just be careful

 

[michiganlover]

You can get a Philly strop from RupRazor for $20 shipped, in addition I bought a Bismark/ Illinois Strop off of Ebay for $21 shipped. It's pretty nice, in that it has both linen, and leather sides.

Here is the Strop I bought from E-Bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BISMARK-SHAVING-SUPPLIES-LEATHER-STROP-1066-NEW-UNUSED_W0QQitemZ390170740985QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad7fd08f9

 

[K.T.]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I'll try a catalog or phonebook for the time being. I'll pick up one of the Philly or Illinois strops as soon as I can.

Very interesting that you can figure out the grit of catalog or newspaper ink and determine its usefulness from that. I would never have made that connection.

K.T.

 

[Luc]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I'll try a catalog or phonebook for the time being. I'll pick up one of the Philly or Illinois strops as soon as I can.

Very interesting that you can figure out the grit of catalog or newspaper ink and determine its usefulness from that. I would never have made that connection.

K.T.

It works but your edge won't be as smooth as leather...

 

[Go West Young Man]

I would wait until you had a real strop, you're already messing with a dozen unknown variables learning a straight, why add to your potential woes?

 

[holli4pirating]

Newspaper is actually quite good to strop on.