Thread: So I'm gonna make a couple strops... anyone care to criticise my plans for me?

I can only find 2 1/2 inch linen.
3 inch Dee rings.....do I use brass or nickel ???.

I'm gonna use 11 oz single shoulder glued back to back to make 22 oz double shoulder., one side clean and the other with a diamond patten embossed into it and treated with "Black Dove Strop Paste"

Speedy rivets AND some sort of adhesive on the thinner piece going though the Dee ring since my leather will be like 5/16 or 3/8 thick and won't fold.

Suggestions for what kind of adhesive?

Where am I going to find a swivel loop for the top??? ad an acceptable handle for the bottom?
I was planning on using another Dee ring for a handle.

What am I missing?

Since this stuff is cheaper as I buy more I intend to purchase enough to make...um.. 5 or 6.

Maybe if they are nice enough I can try to sell a couple to get the wife off of my back.

Does anyone make a strop in 22 oz?
Any reason why double shoulder won't work?
Do I need a better paste to be "Premium" ?

Is 2 1/2 inches wide enough or do I need to keep lookin for 3 inch linen ??

Would anyone want to purchase something like this for just barely more than I have into the raw materials or am I gonna be stuck with a bunch of dang strops?

On second thought, I just looked at Tony's strops and now I'm not sure if even I want MY strop.
oh well, feel free to answer questions anyway.

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

3 inch Dee rings.....do I use brass or nickel ???

Brass is nice, but Nickel's good too.

X

Anything over 8 oz leather is pretty much too thick and takes way too much neatsfoot oil and mink oil to soften it for a decent strop. Optimally 5 to 8 ounce with the 6 or 7 ounce range being prime.

any Dee over 2 inch is usually a flat ring and not a round ring. Nickel is less expensive.

Glen F

So how come my old friend who used to be a barber pulled out his old strop and it was a whopping 3/8 inch or better?
I'm not disbelieving, just seems odd.

X, " Brass is nice, nickel is good too." (I can't figure out how to quote)
Just the sort of answer I would expect from a dirty h........never mind, not gonna say it!
Haha just kiddin X sheesh.... why is everyone so serious


So, I wonder if you can glue Latigo ??? Seems like it might make things simpler since it has a high oil content already right?

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

(I can't figure out how to quote)

Try the "Quote" button in the bottom right corner of any given post. Works for me.

X

The latigo on my handamerican strop is glued and stitched. Seems to be holding ok. I use 3M77 spray glue on my strops, it is suitable for leather but speicalist leather glues are available too.

If you already have shoulder leather go ahead and use it, but most strops are made from butt leather. I don't think leather being too thick will present a problem. I also son't think you should glue the entire pieces together, just glue them at the fittings.

Actually, I'm working with a local guy so he will sell me pretty much whatever I want.
As a matter of fact, he could probably sell me some d#*k leather if I asked.
BUT..I'm making strops not walking sticks.

OK so I should be looking for ? Opps, I mean butt ?

I don't much care where it comes from as long as it is smooth on both sides.

I was figuring that by making it double I could kill two birds with one stone, having it smooth on both sides PLUS massive thickness.

What kind of leather is smooth on both sides and pretty damn thick ?


I can't find the hardware I want so I'm gonna make it out of brass rod.

Don't think leather comes smooth on both sides, one side is smooth the other is like suede. Sometimes the suede side is pressed smooth, but it is not smooth enough for stropping, in my very limited experience. I have only made 2 strops to date.

Horse butt cordovan would be nice, but TM looked into it and it was not economic.

I would go with latigo, bridle leather, or a butt leather with a satin (ie not polished finish. This is what i think the guys in the know suggest (ie Tony Miller and Keith De grau). Alternatively get some samples from your leather chum and suck it and see.

May i ask what do you think massive thickness will achieve?

Massive coolness? just kiddin

Even Lynn in his video had SOME bend in his strop around the blade while stropping.
Wouldn't a stiffer strop bend less under the blade and improve the geometry of the whole operation?

Even by taking 3 strips that came from the same cow/area/tannery/big piece that are identical in every way, if you glue 2 of them back to back the double piece will be stiffer than the single

Doesn't the strop "wrapping" the trailing edge effect anything?

Also, since I can't find hardware of the quality I want I've decided to make some of my own.

Have torch. Will braze.