Thread: My stropping experiment

Originally Posted by epd

Those look great!
An iron will take those wrinkles out in a jiffy, have you tried melting the end of the hose with a lighter to prevent further freying?
I have been on the hunt for a canvas belt ends of the appropriate size, not sure of the terminology but you can see what im talking about here... fashion men's canvas belts webbing belts fabric belts products, buy fashion men's canvas belts webbing belts fabric belts products from alibaba.com
Also, from a past life I still have a vinyl cutter/ tee shirt press, and Ill be experimenting with making gold/silver labels like you would see on a brand name strop. If it works Id be glad to whip you up some labels for yours that you would apply with an iron...
This is the process

Thanks for the ironing idea. I have melted the ends of the seat belts. They are plastic so that works. I don't think that would work on the linen of the hose. The hose seems to unravel to a certain point and then stop. I think it is how they are woven. I could put a piece of leather on the ends to clean them up.

Your label idea is interesting. But these are experimental pieces that I am trying to figure out what I like. I am making them to be disposable if need be.

The ones I have been calling seat belts aren't actually seat belts but the same thing from a patient lift. Basically a hoist. We have to replace them every 2 years whether they have been used or not. They are free. The D rings cost me about 60 cents and are reusable. If I try a paste or something on one and I don't like it they go in the garbage can.

Today I did hone up a razor and did 20 on the Crox, 100 on the fire hose, and then 60 on the plain leather. Cuts arm hair good but I will have to wait till the morning to see how the shave goes.

Tim

Those are looking really nice Tim, Those black ones look really cool. The fire hose is neat with the striping down the middle. They're starting to look professional.

The ironing on label idea is a great idea. I know that some strops are pressure stamped. "32-T" would sound cool

My shave today with the traditional Crox, fire hose, leather was what I expected. Good but not excellent. I suspect this will be like most things I have done. Getting to the 90th percentile is not that hard. That last 10% is the hard part.

I need to go through my drawer and get an experimental razor to dedicate to this. I have a great one in mind as I am thinking. The one I did yesterday is a Skidmore that I don't want to mess up experimenting to much.

The 32-T idea is a good one. It would get people wondering what that meant. [32 is my radio number at work and T for Tim] But I have one better yet. My last name is BLEED. I wonder what the marketing guru's would say about that as a brand name for razors and shaving related gear! I already have a couple of razors I have been experimenting with with that stamped on the tang.

Off to the garage to get that valve grinding compound I mentioned. I will let you know if the strop ends up in the trash!

Tim

I tried the valve grinding compound tonight. It left an interesting scratch pattern. I wish I could take pictures for the rest of you to see what I am. It is a little harsh. After the 3rd shave today my right cheek is a little "hot". LOL

Tim

Here is the latest addition to my stropping arsenal. The felt I found was what I thought a little thin so I doubled it. If I doubled it why not use 2 colors? That way each side using different sprays for example would be easily noticed. Not perfect by far, for example the rivets were to long, but a good prototype.

Yesterday I took a razor from the hones and did 20 laps on lightly Crox leather, 40 on Fire hose, 40 on graphite leather and 40 on Lexol treated leather.
Very good shave. Even though it is my experimental junk razor I hesitate to fool with it further! LOL

Tim

Originally Posted by xMackx

"32-T" would sound cool

Now I had to go buy some stamps!

I don't know if a strop stamped with the word "BLEED" would inspire confidence?

That's is really cool Tim, those letters look awesome. What type of stamps did you get?