Thread: Intro and A Noob Strop Question

Hi everyone. First off, I'd like to thank everyone who i've chatted with over the last couple of days. I have been DE shaving for a little while now and was curious about starting to try a straight, and here I am a couple of days later with some new hardware on the way and anxious to get started!

This forum is by far the most generous group I've encountered. So many guys are so willing to help out a noob, its fantastic.

So i'm going to keep taking advantage and ask a question.

I have brushes and creams, and now I have a straight on the way. I need to get a strop and I understand that Tony is the man to get them from. How long would it be before I will need something other than a hanging strop? I'd like to get a hanging stop now, but if it'll only be a month or two before I need to refresh the edge would i be better off getting a 4 sided paddle? Only thing is, Tony won't have those for a couple of more weeks.

Also, while I'm at it. What benefit does the linen strop add that just leather doesn't?

How long it takes till you need to refresh it depends on a number of factors including the coarseness of your beard, the fineness of the edge, your stropping technique, and how often you shave. An edge can last a few weeks if finished to .25 micron or .1 micron diamond paste or a few months if finished on a stone. I have heard that using newspaper as a strop can help refresh the edge just as a pasted strop will. I would say for now just get the regular strop and you will be fine. A linnen strops usefulness is debated by many but I love it and use it. It is slightly abrasive especially if pasted with white paste. Mine has been slowly darkening from the metal it removes from dozens or razors so it is a very gentle abrasive (talc I think) but it is supposed to help maintain the edge even longer.

Hey Baker, I'm in the same boat. I just got into straights and have yet to get a strop. I heard Tony was the man and I kind-of want a hanging strop but if I will eventually need a pasted paddle, why not get it first. My only thing is that it's only 1 &1/2 in wide whereas the hanging one is 2 &1/2. That seems better but I know I will want to use the pastes sometime in the near future. Especially if I'm getting my blades from antique shops and honing them myself. It looks like You and I will just have to wait a few more weeks. Incidentally I'm using an old plain leather belt in the interim. Better than nothin.

Itsbaker

No one can predict when you will need to refresh your blade on an abrasive surface. could be a couple of weeks could be over a year.

If I was starting over, I would have gotten a pasted paddle to start with. I would have endded up with a hanging strop and stones down the road as well but the paddle strop could have gotten me started and been of use later. As it is I am now looking at a pasted paddle, yet can't quite bring myself to get one becauseI have abunch of stones, yet I want to try that paste edge.

Alpimack:

If you are looking at Antique shop finds you will need much more the "a pasted paddle". You are looking at getting into stone honing in a big way. For the average Antiques store razor I start with (after the blade is polished back to a mirror finish) a 1000 grit hone for putting the rudiments of an edge back on the razor, then I work up to at least 8000 from there. It is only at this point after 3 to 4 stones have been used that a pasted paddle might improve the edge.

I hate to tag along on this thread, but I am in the same situation. I have acquired everything but a strop. ( I have been using newspaper until I get my strop) My question is: I don't plan on doing any honing or restoring any razor. If my razor ( or razors in the future) need honing I will send it to one of you experts. With that in mind would I need anything more than Tony's $30.00 strop?

Originally Posted by johnsag

I hate to tag along on this thread, but I am in the same situation. I have acquired everything but a strop. ( I have been using newspaper until I get my strop) My question is: I don't plan on doing any honing or restoring any razor. If my razor ( or razors in the future) need honing I will send it to one of you experts. With that in mind would I need anything more than Tony's $30.00 strop?

You could certainly send your razor out every time it needed sharpened but you would be without it for a couple weeks or for the price of a couple sharpenings you could get a two side paddle with 1.0 diamond and .5 Chromium Oxide. If you never damaged your blade you could maintain your razor for a long time with this setup.

bj