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I made me a couple of Stropping Straps
During my 2 week sojourn in the loving bosom of family over the Christmas break, I got bored (as you do).
So I ventured out one sunny morn to the shop of a local purveyor of leathery goods and services. It is a great little shop actually. They not only make standard leather items like wallets and saddles and belts etc, but they also do leather art. And, the shopkeep is a fine gent, always up for a chat if he is not too busy.
Anyway, I wandered in and got talking. Mentioned strops and razors, asked what he would suggest in the way of leather for such an item. Blow me down if he didn't turn around and show me a paddle strop that they use on the fine cutting instruments for their leather art!
Well, to cut a long story short, I bought me a piece of that there leather. Just straight up cowhide, but a nice creamy colour and very supple. Quite thick actually - had some trouble getting eyelets long enough to fit through it. I got a 1.2 meter long by 3" wide piece, for 20 AUD.
Not really knowing what I was doing, but having seen a strop of two before, I decided that I would make two strops out of it. So I cut it in half.....Yes, radical, I know, but that is the kinda guy I am.
I am also a lazy guy, with a short attention span. So I simply whacked a couple of holes in the top of each piece, put eyelets through one piece and bolted a couple of picture hooks through the other piece for easy attachment to doorknobs or towel rails etc. I left the handle end untouched - I just hold the leather to keep them taut.
At some stage in the future if I feel the need I can tart them both up a bit by adding handles or whatever. But for now, they work great. The leather is excellent, very supple, and because of its thickness (4mm) and putting two load points on the top, they do not cup. They are nothing flash, but they do the job.
Dimensions are: 22" long X 3" wide X 3/16" thick
Cost per strop: 12.50 AUD.
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James.