okay, so whats next best after shell cordovan?
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okay, so whats next best after shell cordovan?
I've tried to find shell cordovan from Horween. Pretty much a no go for the reasons stated above. However, their Cromexcel line is also very nice. You might give that a try. You can't order directly, so try this link:
MAKESUPPLY | A Brief Guide to Buying Horween Leather
vintage strops is my source...of shell.
SRD sells about 7 different leathers available as replacement leathers. There's a thread on here about them somewhere. They did sell a horse leather, but dropped it and i suspect that because this country has a tendency to get all weird* about the use of used horses in the leather, glue, and pet food industries, which may have affected the supply of shell leather.
*Oh no, can't do that here. Just let us import it from the rest of the world...that's different somehow [/end snark]
You have to be careful about chromexel, as it has a number of intended uses and comes in quite a few types, most of which are not suitable for strops. Essentially it is a veg-tanned cowhide that has undergone re-tanning to produce what they call a 'full grain pull-up leather' - full grain means that it has the original skin surface, not milled or regularised in any way, and pull-up means that it has been treated in a tub with hot oils and waxes - this greasy sort of leather usually stretches a fair bit and in the process it changes colour, becoming lighter then getting dark again as the pressure is released.
Some types are modified so they are not over-greasy, but some types are so saturated you need to clean your hands after touching it. I had a full side once and sent it straight back - it was wrinkled, had a very uneven surface and was caked with grease, despite the supplier telling me it was good for strops. I have seen some very fine strops made from it, so a strop-quality chromexel definitely exists, but for what it is - cowhide - you are paying a lot for it.
Regards,
Neil
If you want to make it simple, buy a 3 inch strip of cowhide from Tandy. Do Not mail order it, ( personally hand select the strip yourself ). Apply a light dabbing of black Dovo paste. You will have a nice strop with a mild draw to it for a reasonable price. Not fancy but practical. Don't forget to chamfer the long edges of the leather.
No bummer here. :chapeau
Dumb question-What's the black Dovo paste for? Thanx for any info:)-Gearhead222
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Barbers of yesteryear put a small amount of black paste on their strops for the purpose of creating draw. I prefer a bit of draw on my strop. It's just personal preference. I got my first strop in 1968 from my barber and he dabbed just a very small amount of black paste on it for me. Once it was rubbed in, it was not noticeable except for the added draw.