Table Strop Suggestions?

Hey I have some questions about table strops.

I've got some nerve damage in my left wrist and arm.
So no more shaving with both hands. Also I can't really hold the strop tight so well.
I'm wondering about table strops.
Did some searching of posts but can't seem to find the best option.

Can someone direct me to the thread or perhaps describe to me the best way to build a table strop?

I remember seeing one that Tom has a few years back, leather stretched across giving a perfect bow.. easy to use..
Should probably add cheap to that equation.. hehehe :)

Thanks a bunch!

I have a table strop that is 12” x 3”. It has rubbery feet at each corner to give it some grip. The leather is a nice black bridle mounted on a 1” thick piece of hardwood. The leather goes right to the edge of the base on all four sides.

I think it cost me $35 five years ago.

The width is great for stropping without having to use an X-stroke and the height of the base and feet make it quite comfortable to use on a bathroom counter.

I think you could take these specs and make one yourself for about the same cost. It’s a great way to recycle a badly nicked vintage strop.

They're called "bench strops". I've got one like our brother to the North, DZEC, describes. I also have "hand issues", similar to what you've described. Bench strops really do the job.

Cheaper to buy, than build.

Chef Knives To Go (CKTG) sells such a base (3" x 11"), for an affordable $19.95 -- https://www.chefknivestogo.com/ristba.html -- other components are available, individually. They also sell a complete "kit" for $55.00 (free shipping on $60 orders)

Straight Razor Designs (SRD) sells a hand-held (one end) (3" x 12") "modular paddle strop" for $89.95, which comes with several stropping components (additional ones are available) -- https://straightrazordesigns.com/col...nt=28867201287 (free shipping on $75 orders)

I prefer the bench strop, but that's just me. You could buy the CKTG base and individual stropping components from them and/or SRD (you'll have to trim 1" from the SRD stuff).

Hope this helps! (if you have questions, go ahead and PM me)

You can find a variety of bench strops here:

https://classicedge.ca/index.php?rou...tegory&path=38

That’s where I got mine. Phil’s stropping video demonstrate the use of one and how much easier it is to use than a hanging strop.

I should point out that my purchase was in $CAD and that $35 CAD = a lot less in $US.

If you have hanging STROPS save your money. Just lye the Strop on bathroom counter top. Hold one end with one hand Strop on canvas turn Strop over and finish on leather.

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Originally Posted by bouschie

If you have hanging STROPS save your money. Just lye the Strop on bathroom counter top. Hold one end with one hand Strop on canvas turn Strop over and finish on leather.

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Well, the only problem there is the hanging strop flat on the counter is just a fraction of an inch off the counter and you have to be really careful not to hit the counter with the razor. A bench strop is far easier to use.

I have two I bought many years ago from Tony Miller which I use with diamond paste however plain they would work great. Just realize hanging straps have give to them as you strop. A bench strop has no such give so you have watch the pressure.

Paddle strops can be used also. They are mainly designed for travel but the usually have hollow areas to provide that "give" while stopping.

I dig my Lipshaw strops. Certainly overkill, but the strops can be flipped-over or changed out quickly as-desired.

Attachment 294495

I use them for progressive stropping after honing at the shop.

There is one by my bedside on a custom mount. If I am feeling particularly lazy, I just sit-up and strop.
I typically alternate hanging strops pre-shave, but sometimes I just use the Lipshaw.
They all get it the day after the shave before putting the razor away.

Attachment 294497Attachment 294498

And NO! I don't strop in my sleep........I think? :D

What im getting from this thread, is that a paddle or bench strop is leather laying on a hard surface. So no give in the strop. But, shouldnt there be some give? A piece of leather strop mounted on a wood block with rubber feet or bubber strip under it to keep it from sliding would work? Or should it be stretched in a way to hold it up off the base a little so its suspended above base just a little? I think that is what im seeing on Toms strop.

I ha e a piece of leather and was thinking of making one of these myself. I will be watch.

There is some black foam between the wood and the strop.
Earlier ones have felt there. A little 'give'.

Like a craft foam? How thick is it? I was thinking a bit of craft foam would be nice but its only about an 1/16 inch thick. Was thinking two layers of craft foam under the leather might work nicely. But it was all just ideas.
Hope your paying attension Mike T. I think this would be easy to make. If you have some leather already.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

What im getting from this thread, is that a paddle or bench strop is leather laying on a hard surface. So no give in the strop. But, shouldnt there be some give? A piece of leather strop mounted on a wood block with rubber feet or bubber strip under it to keep it from sliding would work? Or should it be stretched in a way to hold it up off the base a little so its suspended above base just a little? I think that is what im seeing on Toms strop.

I ha e a piece of leather and was thinking of making one of these myself. I will be watch.

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I have a paddle strop that has grooves cut parallel to the stropping surface that are supposed to offer the effect of stropping on a hanging strop. I also have a bench strop in which the bridle leather is glued right to the hardwood base. To be honest, I can’t tell that there is much difference in the feel of the razor on the strop.

I have three hanging strops as well and tend to use them most often, but the bench strop sure made stropping easier for me when I was starting out and I found the muscle memory for flipping the razor did transfer to the hanging strops.

I also read somewhere that stropping on a bench strop is less likely to round the edge than stropping on a hanging strop, especially for newbies who haven’t quite figured out how to tension correctly.

The bench strops that I use are 20"x4". Latigo leather contact cemented to MDF so that they sit about one inch off the table. Cheap and effective.

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

The bench strops that I use are 20"x4". Latigo leather contact cemented to MDF so that they sit about one inch off the table. Cheap and effective.

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What is MDF?

I think what you are envisioning is what is called a loom strop. The strop is designed so that it can bow like a hanging strop, but it can either be held like a paddle strop, or placed on a table like a bench strop. You can adjust the tension on the leather to control the amount of bowing.

Search the Internet for "loom strop". I know that Mastro Livi used to sell one that was highly regarded, but I am not certain he still makes them.

Medium density fiberboard....

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Originally Posted by Gasman

What is MDF?

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Thanks for all the replies gentleman!
I was super busy last night and couldn't get on SRP.

Now I remember thank you ... loom strop. I see the dinky little ones on fleabay, I had one at some point, but can imagine a proper sized one.

I read a great thread yesterday explaining why a suspended/hanging strop is better, why it does a better job with that "curve or bow" to it. Creating a micro-bevel after using the hones. Papabull was the one who posted the excellent explanation, I'll see if I can link that thread, it was from some years back.

Man! Tom that strop you have looks professional! And the wall mount is so cool!
If you want to quit your day job and travel the world installing those... that IS an option. Just saying you got options! :D

I'm gonna put the table loom strop on the list, there's gotta be an Ingenious Geezer way to make one of those with household materials.. I imagine it would be something like:
Old leather coat, 3 paper clips, 2 pieces of wood, some glue, a pair of pliers, and a blowtorch. Wham Bamm! A table loom strop to boot!

Thanks to all the suggestions and to Harold who PM with an offer of a strop! He is a generous man to say the least!
:chapeau

Don't forget the Ductape!
I started making a bench strop and posted a couple pics last night in the "Working on" thread. Plan on using it when honing. So I dont have to get off my lazy backside to strop.

I made them and sold them for a few years but I just could not compete with cheap Chinese stuff so I gave up

The Vegi Tanned leather is easy to source, most good hardwood stores have any wood you want

I use #3M Spray Adhesive when I built them but any good Contact Cement will work, the silicone feet are available at any Hardware store the screw in style stay forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9um6_LbfNpQ


I find them to excell for Pastes and for Kamisori stropping, but they work well for all stropping


Not For Sale any Longer

I'm a little late to the party here. The bench strops that have been mounted directly to a board with feet work well for knives in my opinion, but not with razors, since the angle of the knife can vary on the fixed leather surface whereas the fixed angle of the razor cannot. Thus, the best bench strops for razors would be those that have underlying give to them. The Lipshaw strop with felt or foam takes things in this direction as does the paddle strop with parallel cutouts in the wood beneath the leather. But really, only the loom strop as mentioned has the "give" mimicking the hanging strop. Tiny it is, but lots of European barbers use all the same. However, it normally involves being held with the off-hand which defeats the purpose here.

In France, I have seen examples of a bench strop that are also analogous to a hanging strop. There vary in size but involve a piece leather stretched across hollowed-out piece of wood underneath. Here's the only shot of one I could find:

Attachment 294546

It's very small, better to be used hand-held, but the same design can be enlarged to accommodate a 2"- or 2-1/2"-wide piece. Placed on a table or a bench, it would require only a little pressure from the thumb and forefinger of the off-hand to stabilize it, or a slot could be cut to place it in for one-handed use only.

Hey nice! That looks like one that could work, just make it bigger.

Maybe a 4"x4" by 2 feet long or so? Cut out an arc of wood from the top just like that one you have in the picture, and stretch leather across..

Next I'd try to think of an easy way to tighten it when it stretches/loosens.

Essentially one piece of wood, leather, and some hardware.

So vegi tanned is the way to go? I think I read that there's a difference in pull between bridle leather and others. Less pull was easier for me, but with experience maybe that preference would change.

I'd like to have a pasted paddle strop and a loom strop I think. Seems a lot of guys use that combo?

Thanks guys! Much appreciated :)

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Originally Posted by MikeT

Hey nice! That looks like one that could work, just make it bigger.

Maybe a 4"x4" by 2 feet long or so? Cut out an arc of wood from the top just like that one you have in the picture, and stretch leather across..

Next I'd try to think of an easy way to tighten it when it stretches/loosens.

Essentially one piece of wood, leather, and some hardware.

So vegi tanned is the way to go? I think I read that there's a difference in pull between bridle leather and others. Less pull was easier for me, but with experience maybe that preference would change.

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I have a couple of these in France, including the one as pictured, and the tension has not varied much as to changes in humidity. The other one is something like 1-3/4" x 14" as to the stropping surface, the leather being sanded vegetable-tanned. So yes, vegetable-tanned would be one that would work. I would recommend picking up a thick slice as the thinner vegetable-tanned pieces can stretch a bit too much; and on a board, if you go that route (not that I am recommending it with razors) a thicker slice provides more cushion. With this hollowed out wood suspension type, horsehide or shell would also work well, and could be thinner without worrying about stretching.

Not really a table-strop, but I saw this on the fleabay a while back and thought it was pretty neat. Adjust tension with the thumb......

Attachment 294742

A little longer on the lever would give you more or easier tension control.

Might be all it needs?
I was thinking a recessed screw run up through the bottom and a knurled-nut on top would be a great tension-adjustment on a bench-strop. A hinge or something might be used.
Not unlike what some of the Lipshaw models have........

Attachment 294743Attachment 294744

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Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

I have a couple of these in France, including the one as pictured, and the tension has not varied much as to changes in humidity. The other one is something like 1-3/4" x 14" as to the stropping surface, the leather being sanded vegetable-tanned. So yes, vegetable-tanned would be one that would work. I would recommend picking up a thick slice as the thinner vegetable-tanned pieces can stretch a bit too much; and on a board, if you go that route (not that I am recommending it with razors) a thicker slice provides more cushion. With this hollowed out wood suspension type, horsehide or shell would also work well, and could be thinner without worrying about stretching.

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I have to revise my earlier comment. If the leather was to be stretched across a hollow-out board, a thin slice might be preferable as once it is stretched, stretching being an advantage here, it would stay in place once attached. But on a board, or used as a traditional hanging strop, a thicker slice of vegetable-tanned leather is to be preferred from my experience.