Thread: kangaroo

I was also wondering about the possibility of somehow bonding it but did not know what to use to overcome the problem Tony raised. Then I thought, perhaps just attaching it as a second piece of leather, to a cow or horse hide strop instead of a linen side, for example?

Pulled tight (in normal stropping mode), I wonder whether the other, thicker, leather might not provide a decent base or backing?

I honestly do not know if the kangaroo leather possesses stropping properties over and above other types of leather, as I have not tried a lot of other types of leather. Cow and Horse is my limit. I do know that it is among the strongest leathers because it has a very fine and uniform grain. I would hazard a guess that my <1mm thick piece is at least as strong as a >5mm piece of cowhide, but that is really a guess.

I would also add that I personally do not find the thickness an issue at all. I mean, I did initially, but after a few weeks with my very home made roo strop I do not even notice it any more. This is maybe because I made mine double-sided (2 bits of leather back to back), whereas I only sent Lynn a single piece. I really do not know.

Not being a vendor myself, I am hesitant to add my 2 cents here, but I will anyway The roo leather strops well enough to justify its use in a strop I think. It is certainly no worse than cow or horse strops I have used. In addition, Kangaroo leather has a reputation in certain circles of being great leather (maybe even the best) for boots, whips, etc. In the general population Kangaroo itself is, I imagine, an attractive and almost exotic animal (although not to us Aussies, who tend to view them as over-sized rats ). I do not see why you could not move units by taking advantage of those perceptions. Plus, it does work of course.

James.

I received one of these strops (Thank you James!!) I can't really attest to the durability of it, yet, I'll know more in about 20 years, but as far as I can tell it is strong. It is thin, but pulled taught it doesn't seem to make a difference to me when stropping. I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine as is?

My comments on bonding and the strength of said bond over time are based on my cautious approach to marketing anything. Some glues work, some don't when flexed over time. Different thicknesses of leather and different stiffnesses will react differently. I approach much of this from my career in engineeering as opposed to just a user. Everything has been done at some point, the key is in how much work and experimentation it actually took to do it and have it work.

I was simply saying that unless I saw a true advantage to this material or I had good access to it over the more commonly used leather I'm not sure it would be worth the extra effort to back it up to make it thicker. I'd say use it as is. I was in no way saying it can't be done or is not a good leather.

There are a few interesting leathers out there once used in strops but today only available in paper thin hides. Not sure if kangaroo was used in the past but it does have all the right traits. Pigskin was once used too but again today is mainly used for lining women's purses and is very thin.

Tony

Just so happens I have a nice pigskin strop too..........

Whatever bond they used on the C-Mon, must have worked well because that strop is over 50 years old, easy. The Roo works very well on it's own, but the thinness just takes getting used to. Some people let the leather hang down on a hanging strop and just use the linen, while I prefer to hold both strops and have the linen backed up by the leather.

This is definitely a very personal sport, but it could be fun to see what would happen to bond the Roo to something.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

The Roo works very well on it's own, but the thinness just takes getting used to.

I agree. It is a personal thing, and maybe many people would prefer a heavier strop too. I know I like this one though, it feels very easy.

[Edit: I took to it like a fish to water, the thin lightweight nature of the strop is very welcome to me. personal preferences and all that!]

Very nice work Jimbo! One of the coolest and most unique strops I've seen!

Thickness is a battle.....too thin and it just feels like it needs something, too thick and it is often also too stiff. To me at least a strop that is pliable works best whether thick or thin and if cupped or bowed at all will easily flatten to the edge and give full coverage.

I think the issue with bonding is what type of leather is used. Latigo and some cordovan tanned leather feel a little oily and this may work against the glue and loosen. Maybe a drier veg tanned leather would be a good base.

Hmm, a pigskin/roohide dual leather strop? (no plans to make one, just talking)

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Thickness is a battle.....too thin and it just feels like it needs something, too thick and it is often also too stiff. To me at least a strop that is pliable works best whether thick or thin and if cupped or bowed at all will easily flatten to the edge and give full coverage.

I think the issue with bonding is what type of leather is used. Latigo and some cordovan tanned leather feel a little oily and this may work against the glue and loosen. Maybe a drier veg tanned leather would be a good base.

Hmm, a pigskin/roohide dual leather strop? (no plans to make one, just talking)

Tony

Whatever..................

Lynn

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

To me at least a strop that is pliable works best whether thick or thin and if cupped or bowed at all will easily flatten to the edge and give full coverage.

The JimboRoo seems resistant to cupping and when pulled tight flattens out really easily.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Whatever..................

Lynn

eh? where's the smilie denoting a humorous tone?
I was hoping for a Wowza rather than a Whatever!

The leather appears to be about 1/25th of an inch thin - very close to the thin-ness of a credit card