Thread: New to the old way

Went by my buddy's shop today and he gave me a 4"x50" strip of vegetable tanned cow. All in all its in pretty perfect condition. Especially for free. Now I need to decide whether to make a paddle, or hanging strop. I'm leaning towards paddle so I can do it while I'm at my desk, but not entirely sure yet. At this point, since I got this piece for free, should I spend for some poly webbing as well? Or just stick with leather for the time being?

Originally Posted by Jtyson

Went by my buddy's shop today and he gave me a 4"x50" strip of vegetable tanned cow. All in all its in pretty perfect condition. Especially for free. Now I need to decide whether to make a paddle, or hanging strop. I'm leaning towards paddle so I can do it while I'm at my desk, but not entirely sure yet. At this point, since I got this piece for free, should I spend for some poly webbing as well? Or just stick with leather for the time being?

Well since we're making all the decisions for you here I think you should go with a paddle strop as that sounds like it might be more useful to you. If you wan to get some webbing material and you're happy with what you can find, by all means get it. I haven't come across any webbing material locally that I was ever happy with. You're part of the world might have just what you need though.


Mick

Not looking for decisions, just suggestions I figure you have over 5,000 posts, so you must know a thing or two about what is generally considered good/better/best. Can't average over 5 posts a day and not learn anything!

I am not set on webbing, I just notice that most of the strops I've seen for sale have both a poly web and a leather piece. I've seen suggestions of using car seat belts, but that seems a bit odd to me. I was hoping maybe someone could point me to a source of the webbing. Anything tailor made for what we do? Though honestly, if I can just use either side of the leather and still get a good result, then I'd rather not spend any more money at this point.

Originally Posted by Jtyson

Not looking for decisions, just suggestions I figure you have over 5,000 posts, so you must know a thing or two about what is generally considered good/better/best. Can't average over 5 posts a day and not learn anything!I am not set on webbing, I just notice that most of the strops I've seen for sale have both a poly web and a leather piece. I've seen suggestions of using car seat belts, but that seems a bit odd to me. I was hoping maybe someone could point me to a source of the webbing. Anything tailor made for what we do? Though honestly, if I can just use either side of the leather and still get a good result, then I'd rather not spend any more money at this point.

Wanna Bet!

I wonder just how many of those 5k posts were much more than total BS...Probably about 75% at least. Have I learnt anything?! Nah. Been too busy posting my own high and mighty opinion, but I suppose something might have rubbed off over the time that I've been hanging around the place .

From my own experience, seatbelt material is crap. But that's just a personal opinion. I tried it. Didn't like it. Stuck with what I've been using for years, and that is the rough and smooth sides of my homemade strop. Does it work?! Yes it does, and quite nicely too. I've found other materials, in my time of searching, but never anything wider than a smidgeon over two inches that would have been worthwhile had it have been at least 2.5 inches. Your luck might be better, and You might try a Haberdashery for some linen webbing or some such, places that deal in foam rubber and such things carry seatbelt materials I've found, but I didn't like that stuff myself. You know your local area better than me. Those are my suggestions for you. I came up against brick walls everywhere I turned in my search for a second material for strops. I wish you luck in your search.


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Wanna Bet!

I wonder just how many of those 5k posts were much more than total BS...Probably about 75% at least. Have I learnt anything?! Nah. Been too busy posting my own high and mighty opinion, but I suppose something might have rubbed off over the time that I've been hanging around the place .

From my own experience, seatbelt material is crap. But that's just a personal opinion. I tried it. Didn't like it. Stuck with what I've been using for years, and that is the rough and smooth sides of my homemade strop. Does it work?! Yes it does, and quite nicely too. I've found other materials, in my time of searching, but never anything wider than a smidgeon over two inches that would have been worthwhile had it have been at least 2.5 inches. Your luck might be better, and You might try a Haberdashery for some linen webbing or some such, places that deal in foam rubber and such things carry seatbelt materials I've found, but I didn't like that stuff myself. You know your local area better than me. Those are my suggestions for you. I came up against brick walls everywhere I turned in my search for a second material for strops. I wish you luck in your search.


Mick

Eh I think I'll follow your line of thinking and stick with both sides of the leather. I like the idea of the strop being as wide as the blade or better. How about strop length? Does that matter or mostly preference? I figure I have a 50" piece of leather, if I split that in thirds I could make a paddle strop and a hanging strop, each with 15-16" of stropping area. Most of the strops I've seen online tend to be in the 24" range though so I'm not sure if 15" would be too little.

All the paddles I've made have been 12 inches long

Yep, I think you'll find on those longer (Hanging) strops that after a while much of it is wasted real estate 15-16" of stropping surface will do you nicely. As to paddles, I'll bow to Ed above.


Mick

I went and bought a strip of denim from the local fabric strop and just cut a 3" wide piece out of it, obviously the edges are rough, but it's a very cheap and quick way of finding a fabric you like. If you look up "rough and dirty denim strop" you will see how I did it, and it is still going strong for an investment of $1.20.

I got my razor back from Glen a couple days ago. Haven't made my strop yet though, so haven't started the shaving process. I've got my leather, a piece of poplar to make the paddle out of, and contact cement. I found this tutorial and although I would not make my strop nearly that long, I like his attention to detail. I'm wondering if all the stage sanding is necessary though? I guess it would make sense to be sure the leather is perfectly flat, but is it really a must? Not sure if pre purchased strops go through this sort of rigorous process before we purchase them.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-tutorial.html

In the tutorial he mentioned that the leather was uneven and that was the reason for sanding. If yours is flat snd smooth there would be no need