Handmade Razor Strops

[Laney1566]

I am a leathercrafter by hobby. I specialize in tooled leather holsters, but have done many different projects. I am interested in creating my own strop as I am considering switching to straights. I have a couple questions for those of you in the know.
1. Is standard vegetable tanned leather the proper type of leather used?
2. If so...what type of finish if any is used or is it 100% dressing?
3. What type of dressing is used?
4. What is the cloth side of the strop made of?

Here is a couple pics of my handy work.

[Act Appalled]

I wish I could answer your question, but I'm sure someone in the know will chime in soon. I just wanted to complement your leather work. Very nice!

[CharlieTN]

I can't answer your strop question but just wanted to compliment you on your leatherwork. I do some occasionaly, mainly making sheaths for knives I've made and have dabbled with tooling. Your work is very nice. Very clean.

I make and use strops for honing my knives but I would be surprised if they would work to the same degree for a straight. For my knives I use a thicker veg tanned leather, flesh side, glue down the hair side to a block of wood and load the flesh side with green polishing compound. Works beautifully. I can get a shaving edge, and maintain it quite nicely that way but of course a shaving edge on a knife is vastly different than a shaving edge on a straight.

I'm going to hop on this thread because since I'm very OCD about sharp knives (wear the scars to prove it) I'm very interested in how straights are honed and will probably try shaving with one someday.

Charlie

[GFreg]

Wonderful leather work!

I don't have any experience so I can't answer your questions first hand, but I found this thread that might help. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=8014 I didn't see them mention a strop with a cloth side though.

[Laney1566]

Thanks guys.

[Thebigspendur]

yes your work is superb however doing strops is an entirely different thing. It's kind of like knife makers who decide to do straights thinking it all the same and they find out it's totally different.

I'm no expert but with strops it's all about the quality of the leather and the smoothness and being free of all imperfections meaning fat wrinkles and creases and being pretty flexible. The type of leather and the finishing is more a preference thing. You really need to do some research on this not depend on what we say.

[Laney1566]

yes your work is superb however doing strops is an entirely different thing. It's kind of like knife makers who decide to do straights thinking it all the same and they find out it's totally different.

I'm no expert but with strops it's all about the quality of the leather and the smoothness and being free of all imperfections meaning fat wrinkles and creases and being pretty flexible. The type of leather and the finishing is more a preference thing. You really need to do some research on this not depend on what we say.

And so I am.
I simply have a couple whole sides of leather and think I have the right material in stock. I will do more research though.

I notice also that they seem to be dyed leather. I have oil dyes and mineral base dyes. So many variables for such a basic item.

[cooncatbob]

You can contact my friend Jose, he's a member vendor here and make beautiful strops.
http://www.ambroseshave.com/strops.html

[Mink]

I've made bench/paddle strops out of raw cowhide cinch straps and full grain cowhide bridle leather. I started straight shaving in early October and quickly damaged my Latigo hanging strop - and pretty much dulled the shaving edge on my razor as well. I greatly prefer the solid bench type strops at this stage. My recommendation is to start with the softer cowhide and use plenty of strop dressing. You'll also need some fine grit sandpaper to remove the nicks - 600 wet/dry and up. The bridle leather is harder than the cowhide, and when you attach it to the paddle, the stop itself just doesn't have enough give. Once I'm more experienced with this, the harder bridle leather would probably be ok, and maybe better, but I think I'll only use it for a hanging strop. I use Fromm's Strop dressing (Neetsfoot oil is another option) on the raw cowhide (rough side is the glue side) and have sanded it many times to remove the nicks. It's very smooth and soft now and does a wonderful job. I can see that the harder bridle leather would actually allow me more shaves on a blade because of the better ability to polish the bevel and edge. The raw cowhide is much more clingy, has very deep draw, but is much easier for someone just starting out. For me, taking it easy and slow is the only way to prevent nicking the leather (either one). I normally do 75-90 laps before shaving and 12-15 laps after to dry the blade (the bridle leather is better for this). This isn't a "how-to" answer, but I hope it gives you an idea of what these 2 leather types are like. That's beautiful leather work in your pictures.

[Laney1566]

I have 10 oz leather and I have lining leather that is very smooth. I am thinking of using the lining leather for a board strop. Is jewelers rouge acceptable for fine honing?
I also would like to add the material to the backside of the hanging strop...What is recommended there?