Thread: Strop Differences

Originally Posted by thewap

Question- does anyone sand their horse hide strops for a little more draw? feeling the itch to buy a new strop, I made my own, cow hide 4" X 20 on flat wood, worked for me so far, but thinking I should progress from ghetto after joining SRP..

I sanded mine with some 600grit. A subtle difference, but I enjoy the feel much more now!

I did a run of buffed horsehide last summer and it gave them a nice velvety feel. I can't say it increases the effectiveness but if one needs the feeling of draw it is a step in that direction. It is a dusty process though and one I prefer to do outside the shop in nice weather.............nothing I'll see in Baltimore the next few months!

Every strop will feel a bit different. Leather is an organic material and each hide responds differently to tanning and each tannery uses their own unique methods. Even hides from the same place vary considerably. This is why I never pre-sell my products unless I have all the component cut and prepped as I cannot be sure the shipment of hides coming the next day will even be usable. What hide is used, what techniques are used to "break it in" during manufacture, etc..all effect how it will feel and how it will lay. This is one of the steps I have never been able pass on to any of my help. They go through the steps but not being strop users they just don't know when they have it right or not.

Personal tastes have alot to do with it as well. Some like a thicker, stiffer strop, others soft and pliable. Making it look pretty is the easy part, making it work is tougher.

Now for the new rising bunch of razor makers out there.....I can't even imagine the headaches involved in getting a consistant product with a reasonable amount of effort!


Tony