Thread: Making a Paddle Strop

I have a question how thick does the leather need to be on a paddle strop? Also I have some buffalo hide would this work?

The one I made a while back uses vegetable tanned tooling leather (scrap piece from Tandy/Leather Factory) and it's about 1/8" thick. After gluing the leather onto it's substrate I treated it with stiff shaving lather and used a pumice stone to flatten the surface of the leather. Once dried I just used a bar of Chromium Oxide and rubbed in a small amount into the leather. Works great, though it ain't pretty. I plan to make a nicer one in the spring once my shop thaws out... it's not heated and I'll be if I'm gonna work in the shop when it's -20 inside!

As for what thickness you should use..... run whatcha brung. As long as it's smooth with no major dips or bumps etc. it should be just fine.

Regards

Christian

I purchased a scrap of red latigo, and was wandering which side to use the shiny side or the dull fuzzy side, on my dovo strop the dull side is up?

This is almost off topic at this point but I found Weldbond white glue to be very effective at attaching leather to wood. Also I use the smooth side up for finishing, I know things are getting sharp when it almost feels like the razor is suctioned to the strop, (some call this the "draw" I believe).
G
I'm a noob so take technical commentary with a grain of salt.