Thread: Standard leather belt as a Strop

Hello again, ive posted a few times and i hope my question arent to idiotic, I have yet to purchase a strop and i am currently using a leather belt, any reason why this should not be done? obviously i dont have a linen side wich apparently is lightly abbrassive. Have you ever heard of this being done? Any reason why this shouldnt work, i seem to feel a noticable difference after i strop with the belt, i would prolly get better results with an actual strop?

Fred,
The belt should work fine...particularly if the leather is smooth and clean. You'll hear differing opinions, but many of us never use linen, so the lack of it is really not an issue. Just make sure you keep the belt tight and the razor flat on the leather. Sure a good strop is nice to have, but if the leather belt is working for you, there reallly is no reason to rush into purchasing one if money is an issue or if you've other things you need immediately to round out your shaving kit.
Cheers,
Ed

hey, thanks for the imput. and yes, im a student a these a the cold months of winter up here in montreal and i cant go splurging like a madman if there is a cheap alternative.

Just be sure you are being extra careful and attentive with your stropping and there should be too many problems.

X

A belt is as good as a modern strop if the surface is is not highly polished or coated in some kind of laquer. Belts sold for carpenters to use with thier pouches work extremely well I found. They tend to be just plain tanned leather and they're sold in wide widths. I have one I use with my pouch that is 2.5" wide and the leather is very good quality with a thickness of 1/4". I must say I haven't used it as a strop but it would make a great one if still new.

PuFF