Strops?

[Sonicfish]

Does anyone have any strop recommendations for a newbie? Obviously cheaper since I'll probably inadvertently cut it. I was thinking about starting here....

http://www.fendrihan.com/illinois-razor-strop-hanging-razor-strop-p-566.html?cPath=116_76

 

[shavingdrummer]

WhippedDog.Com has some nice ones that he makes. I have his travel strop and it works great for when I am out of town.
http://www.whippeddog.com/products/find/strops-and-abrasives'
Also you can check out Maggard Razors.com they have some great ones for a decent price.
http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product-category/hones-strops/

Both sites are great and the owners are really passionate about what they do. I personally don't have much experience with the Illinois Razor Strops Co. but have heard some good things about them in the past.

 

[weizemanner]

This is about the best deal in strops right now. It is a huge strop perfect for a beginner. Go with the english bridle, the latigo is apparently for knives. If you nick it too much the whole thing comes apart and you can just replace the one part. I have heard some rumblings about their customer service though...

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

The whipped dog ones get a good review around here too.

also check out tony miller strops. He is a member of this board and is very helpful/knowledgeable and usually has some "seconds" for a great price. If you buy one of his regular strops he throws in a beginner strop for like 10 bucks. Then you know that you have a high quality practice strop and one of the highest regarded strops in the industry for the cost of 2 of those illinois strops which I find need a lot of breaking in and are generally stiff and weird to strop on.

 

[Sonicfish]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Cheers,

K

 

[shakin_jake]

Does anyone have any strop recommendations for a newbie? Obviously cheaper since I'll probably inadvertently cut it. I was thinking about starting here....

http://www.fendrihan.com/illinois-razor-strop-hanging-razor-strop-p-566.html?cPath=116_76

~~~I had the #127 Illinois strop for a while. It was faster than I liked so Larry (whipped dog) suggested I pour neatsfoot oil on the surface and ram it into the leather using a coffee mug holding onto the handle, pushing, jamming the oil with the side of the mug

Believe it or not, it worked very well, slowed it up big time which gave the strop more draw. Noting wrong with a fast strop though it's just that I prefer more draw when stropping. That said, the two strops I use most are fairly quick. I gave away the Illinois #127 to my UPS driver at the time. He's off this route now so I don't know if he's still using that strop or not

the canvas used on the Illinois strop was somewhat hard but it worked well for me. the length of the strop is short but again, it worked well for me and I got used to the length when I was using it

You'll probably nick whatever strop you use till you learn not to but when you nick it, just take a DE razor blade and remove the flap of leather. On my first strop where I nicked it a bunch (still have it), I took sandpaper to the nick after removing the flap, lightly, then applied a little neatsfoot oil. good as new. I've used that strop a whole bunch (Walkin' Horse English Bridle, 3") and probably repaired at least a half dozen nicks...never affected any of the razors I stropped with it negatively

Have fun learning how to strop...it's a bit of a zen experience



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[Kentos]

Tony Miller also used to have an entry level strop.