Thread: 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.





James.

Those should do the trick for years to come.Nice work.

look great to me!

Thanks lads! Like I said, they are nothing flash. But I am really pleased with how they work. The leather is great for stropping on. Just enough draw, and nice and supple.

If you are on a budget and/or new and not sure about forking out a lot of cash for a strop initially, making a very basic strop like these could be just the ticket.

James.

Nice work James!!

Nice work Jimbo, I wondered if anyone else out there made their own strops (other than tony, of course)

My favorite is one I made myself from a strip of latigo. Had it since day 1 shaving with a straight, has 3 small nicks in it. You really feel it when you nick one you made yourself.

Dave:

I noteice from your profile you live in Surrey.

Where did you get the latigo strip you are using for a strop? I am a newbie (about to start with straight razors after a year of DE shaving) and am lookignto make my own strop. I live in Richmond BC and am hoping for somewhere local.

Barry

Very nice, mate. Hope you enjoy using it for years to come!

Originally Posted by bman40

Dave:

I noteice from your profile you live in Surrey.

Where did you get the latigo strip you are using for a strop? I am a newbie (about to start with straight razors after a year of DE shaving) and am lookignto make my own strop. I live in Richmond BC and am hoping for somewhere local.

Barry

For Barry and anyone else interested, I got the leather from Tandy Leather Factory, in Surrey BC.
tandy leather surrey bc - Google Maps

A few rivets and a metal ring for a handle and you're good. Just don't ask the clerk's there about anything straight razor related, They mean well but they don't understand much about stropping. They told me strops are only needed for sharpening, and they recommended a strip of rough leather and some "Jewelers Rouge" (which I later searched online to find was roughly 6micron). Said it works great, "it's what they sharpened their shop knives on".

Great minds, Jimbo!
Take a look at the end of my homemade strop.