Thread: leather for strop?

Good morning gentlemen,

I am a do it yourself kinda guy and I'm thinking about making a strop. I've already got two leather hides from a previous project. I'm not sure if the leather is good for this or not.

Question: How can I tell if leather is good for making a strop, what flaws should I look for? Does it need to be hard, soft, or somewhere inbetween?
Thickness?

Relative soft leather would probably be easyer to use
It should also feel smooth when you stroke it with your hand

Hard leather has a tendensy to crack or break and if it does then it will need to be fixed before you should use it again

You should try to get something that stays flat when stretched, bumps in leather can be a big hassle

Oh yes bug your neigbours and try to get them to show you different strops and other aspects of this new hobby.
You might find them here http://straightrazorpalace.com/vbgooglemapme.php

The leather should be smooth and flat with no wrinkles or fat marks in it. Depending on the finish it has it will give a different feel as you use it. It shouldn't be like cardboard but be flexible.

It's really all about the quality. There is a reason back in the day strops were a real specialty product.

Thats a cool map janivar123 haven't seen that before. No body close to home though . Still interesting, looks like most of us razor junkies are Europeans and Americans.

Originally Posted by royceiw

looks like most of us razor junkies are Europeans and Americans.

Disposable income plays a part, but in terms of SRP membership it's probably a language thing. The vast majority of Americans and many Europeans speak English.

If your leather is soft, flexible and has a smooth finish on atleast one side then it would work for a strop, If not then you will probly end up damaging your razors edge.

makes sense welshwiz, did not consider the language issue.

So how did you go?


Mick