Specifics of a makeshift belt "strop"
Ok guys i've gotten my first set up (minus, obviously, a good hanging strop) and i've read that you can use an old leather belt as a strop until you can come into a good one (read ALOT of threads actually). My question is what qualities should the belt definitely have or not have to serve, at least temporarily as a strop?
I have a brown, wide, fairly soft, fine grain belt. It was a gift about 1.5 years ago and has never even been worn. Its very flexible and does not have the "shiny" coating used on some leather goods, it pretty dull, fairly natural looking. I was considering looping it over the towel rod through the buckle and just gripping it by the notch end to use.
Any things to look for or consider before i use it like this, please let me know.
And i do plan on getting a nice leather strop, but as of right now i stay fairly strapped for cash and its christmas time so i want to focus more on buying for my loved ones than buying my own toys. That is what christmas is about after all right?:)