Thread: Using Birch Polypore fungus as a strop?

My wife tells me that I'm a fun guy!!

It does work - for a while, anyway. The fungus (just a simple bracket type that grows on birch trees) tends to get harder and harder with age. It is at its best when it still retains some pliability and softness. I have some that has gone rock hard over the years.

I see it as just a make-do kind of thing, although if I was lost in the backwoods making a strop would be the furthest thing from my mind and if I was to be travelling I would have planned to take a strop with me - a proper leather one, which I find far superior to a bit of fungus growing half way up a tree.

You can make plasters out of this fungus too, although the seasoned traveller is mote likely to take a box of bandaids.

I guess lots of things can be made to serve purposes other than what they are either neant for or are good for. The Razor Strop Fungus is one of those things. If it was that efficaceous thats what strops would all be made of.

Regards,
Neil

Wow! Thanks, guys for all the response!

Jimfishesvt, I think I can avoid carving through the hardened cuticle and pore surface by harvesting the Birch Polypore while still immature and soft. The pore layer should peel
Away readily. It will have a greater water content and fewer chitins but I have a dehydrator which should take care of that

Neil, thanks for the info. Of course the leather strop might be preferable, but sometimes raw materials and techniques are left my the wayside due to a change in availability or cost or ease of production, too. I figure I'll try it to see how it goes. I'm a mushroom nut, a pilznarr as the Germans would say, and I love being able to go out into the woods and find things that are useful culinarily, as medicine or as tools.

By the way, I heard you were in the hospital. I hope you feel better.

Does my veg-tanned elephant scrotum strop qualify for entry into this contest?

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Does my veg-tanned elephant scrotum strop qualify for entry into this contest?

Did you go and "harvest" that one yourself as well?

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Does my veg-tanned elephant scrotum strop qualify for entry into this contest?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Does my veg-tanned elephant scrotum strop qualify for entry into this contest?

Unfotunately, no. It tends to attract unwanted attention from the female of the species, and the lonely traveller making his weary way along the asian grasslands and forests is bound to get lumbered with an ugly one.

Might make a nice over the shoulder bag to carry a couple of coconuts in, though...

Regards,
Neil

Interesting, learn something new everyday, thanks for sharing. Good luck and keep us posted.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Does my veg-tanned elephant scrotum strop qualify for entry into this contest?

Huh, I thought the elephant foreskin was the superior strop material.....learn something new daily.

Back on topic though, neat topic, had never heard of fungus strops, curious for sure!

Oh, by the way, has anyone had any experience extracting soap from petrified dromedary dung?

"...I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts..!"