I rotate between a 3" TM Heirloom Horsehide and a 2 1/2" Vintage Hoffritz. I also have a TM starter strop that is pasted on the back for touch ups. I would really like a TM 2 1/2" in black horsehide! Tony,enjoy your holidays and see you back next year!
Thank you Tony. I just bought my razor..maybe...and I am fairly certain that come January 7th, I'll be placing an order with you! Enjoy your holidays! Jim
Congrats Jim on the new straights!! Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas Tony! and a Happy New Year! Can't wait to see what new products next year will have in store :happy005
Not even off the towel rack? When space is at a premium, I find a towel rack is a great place to hang my strop.
What is this "towel rack" of which you speak? Nope, none of that. We have a shower curtain rod, but it's one of the friction types, if I pull on it at all it falls down. I could hook it to the tap, I guess, but I 'd have to stand outside the bathroom to pull it tight... Japanese apartments have NO space to spare, my friend. I could hang it in the laundry room, I guess, but if I want to strop in the middle of a shave, that's a cold walk in winter...
I currently have a no name vintage strop. I'd like a Tony Miller one.... I did see some that Lynn and Don have at their site recently and they look good too! Gosh,.... I just don't know.
AH, Don't get too caught up in it. Either choice is going to give you a lifeltime of great service. But, you know the joke among us addictive wetshavers, "Get both!"
i liked my illinois 835, however i received a vintage 22 inch long russian strop that i now mainly use. and at our TX meet up this fall, i won a strop from Kenrup at RupRazor. man that thing is nice. i get scared also using it that i might nick it. otherwise i have a devoted pasted linen strop that is 2 linen strops together, one with diamond paste, one with cro ox. these were from 2 old strops with bad leather, so i just salvaged the linen. they look great after a good cleaning, and provide a very nice touch up prior to the leather. the other 2 i use is a, 1) loom strop for travel. it is about 8x1.5. and 2)a 3 side paddle with a coticule/cro ox paste/padded leather. i use this one when i hone out in the shop. i was not sure i would like this strop, however now i love this thing. both of these i restored and i am quite happy with them. vgod
Wow, Sounds like a lot of great strops out there.....perhaps some of you gents could post up some photos of yours?? ....I'd love to see some photos of the various Illinois strops, Vintage Strops......Damon's Strops.....paddle strop images would be helpful too. I was looking at some of the bespoke strops at Invisible edge...they look pretty cool.
So I just picked up a Kanayama "Fine Stars" strop off the net. Oddly enough, it's a Japanese made strop for western razors. Even the information on the insert is in English. Anyone have any experience with these? It's the copmpany that makes the Cordovan strops sold on Rasurpur, but this one has a handle. The strop is labeled "Shell Leather". Is that the same as cordovan leather? It seems like a well made, quality strop. Thick, smooth leather, well stitched handle, and solid tackle. Of course, I've never held a strop in my life, so who knows? I'll post pictures soon...
1. Hand American strops 2. Tony Miller strops 3. Dovo's Best Russian Leather strop 4. Illinois strops Cheers, Viktor
Yes that's cordovan. Some people call it shell if it isn't dyed burgundy, since the name has become more associated with the color than the leather. Where did you get your strop if you don't mind my asking? I would like a Kanayama but I'm not real fond of the handle-less style of strop.
I don't mind at all. You can find them here. The portal is called Rakuten, and if you poke around they DO have International shipping...if you need any help, PM me and I'll see if I can help you out; I'm at work now, so I can't do a lot of translating, sorry. Since I bought mine, it looks like that shop has added the handle-less version, which is TWICE THE PRICE. Can't imagine why--the quality of the one I have is great.