Thread: Canvas Weight for a Custom Strop

I have a new genuine horse hide leather strop and I'd like to add a linen (not cotton) canvas strop. I could purchase a vintage strop off eBay and transfer the canvas. I know vintage canvas strops are held in high regard. However, I'd prefer to buy something new. I see canvas fabrics go from 6 oz. to 30 oz. My question is, what is the correct weight for a canvas strop? I was thinking 18 oz. but I'm not sure. Thanks.

EDIT: 18 oz. was too high. I'm not sure of the exact number for what I'm getting but it's much less than that.

Not wanting to rain on your parade, but as far as I know, modern canvas is made from cotton.... in the old days canvas apparently came from cannabis or hemp from which it was made.

Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Not wanting to rain on your parade, but as far as I know, modern canvas is made from cotton.... in the old days canvas apparently came from cannabis or hemp from which it was made.

Regards

Christian

I know it's prevalent but cotton linen/canvas is really a misnomer. Linen is made from hemp, called cannabis in Dutch, or flax fibers. Hemp fiber is used for canvas because it's tougher than flax fiber. Linen canvas, also called Russia canvas because of the coarser hemp of eastern Europe, means the hemp is woven to a denser grade. Fortunately, there are places that still make it the original way.

Maybe you can drop Tony Miller a PM, I'm sure he will have the answer you're looking for. He may even be able to supply what you need.

I would just contact Tony Miller and see if he'll sell you one of his linen straps. It can't be much.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I would just contact Tony Miller and see if he'll sell you one of his linen straps. It can't be much.

SMART MAN>>>>LOL

Tsebins, you're right, the real cansvas side should be hemp or flax. I think DOVO uses hemp these days. If I remember correctly, the early days canvas for strops was made from the same material as the fire department hoses, so maybe the heaviest you can find, in fish-bone pattern...

Nenad

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

I know it's prevalent but cotton linen/canvas is really a misnomer. Linen is made from hemp, called cannabis in Dutch, or flax fibers. Linen canvas, also called Russia canvas because of the coarser hemp of eastern Europe, means the hemp is woven to a denser grade. Fortunately, there are places that still make it the original way.

Cotton is made of cotton, linen is made of flax and canvas is made of hemp (= cannabis) fibers. However for a lot of fabrics cotton became the fiber of choice because of its lower price but the fabrics continued to be known as linen or canvas.

Check here: Canvas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Linen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the olden days flax fibers were used for strops so it is still called a linen strop although hemp fibers and cotton have been used as well. I think DOVO use cotton nowadays but some DOVO strops are advertised having a canvas back.

Originally Posted by Kees

I think DOVO use cotton nowadays but some DOVO strops are advertised having a canvas back.

Kees, I just checked, my DOVO Feinstest Kern-Juchten (Best Russian) strop uses hemp canvas... The surface was chalked white, but after 3-4 years of use, the canvas is showing with it's brownish color...

Although, my friend's DOVO Russian strop (15-20 years old) has this strange thick (some 3-4 mm atleast) smooth cloth, it looks very much like silk to me...


cheers,
Nenad

Originally Posted by superfly

Kees, I just checked, my DOVO Feinstest Kern-Juchten (Best Russian) strop uses hemp canvas... The surface was chalked white, but after 3-4 years of use, the canvas is showing with it's brownish color...

Although, my friend's DOVO Russian strop (15-20 years old) has this strange thick (some 3-4 mm atleast) smooth cloth, it looks very much like silk to me...


cheers,
Nenad

I don't have a DOVO strop so I could be wrong but if "Russian" isn't referring to the leather, it's definitely referring to the hemp fibers used for the canvas.

I don't know if Tony has different hemp canvas strops so I just ordered some swatches from a few online sellers. I'll get a feel for the different sizes. I'm planning on making two, maybe three, hanging strops so I'd like to use canvas strops of different weights.