Thread: Twin Lipshaws a stroppers delight

As by now you probably know I am a huge Lipshaw Microtome strop advocate. For a tool that was made a long time ago to manually sharpen the medical blades that used to take tissue samples in the medical field, they since found new homes in the dens of avid straight razor users. There versatility can't be beat. I owned two Lipshaws, one upstairs for my daily stropping, and one down in my basement workshop. However I was wanting a third Lip. for the workshop area. To use as a platform for my normal progressive stropping campaign. The double sided units that flip over with a flick of a lever is ideal.
Several weeks ago on the Bay was my white whale. It was a Lipshaw that was in excellent shape on an open auction starting bid $40.00 These units are rare, expensive, and usually found in the worst shape possible.
I called the only other Lipshaw fanatic that could ruin my chance at this prize. Sharptonn. Tom was the genius who showed me the light regarding these treasures. And has enough Lipshaws as well to be able to stack them like cord wood. Told him to lay off this unit, I'm all over it. 6 days of waiting for the action to end was tense. Since my opening bid of $40.00 Tom made it his mission to screw with me, telling me he's gonna run me up since he knew my max bid. and its only 40 dollars after all. Har!!!
Success!!!! I won the unit for $40 dollars. Now how will I use such a unit? The workshop Lip. was mounted on a aluminum plate and a dual pillar I fabricated at work. I figure if I make another aluminum base for this new unit, and turn both units 90 degrees each unit could rest on its own pillar.
Enter Neil Miller.
Neil makes the best replacement leathers for Lipshaws for years now. Tom had the foresight to commission Neil in making the first replacement panels, and without him there would be no proper working Lipshaws.
Tom sent me an email during this auction with a photo of multiple Lipshaw panels he just received from Neil. I think my exact words were " Now that made me sit up and take notice". Tom being the truest of friends, sent me, A Red English Bridle panel and a new creation of Neil's a Russian tanned calf panel that has a textured finish to resemble the properties of the original rubberized diamond patterned panel of the Lipshaw. The stars were in line thru this whole third Lipshaw.

Thanks to my brothers Thomas & Neil. You both are the best of friends. And on a side note Neil, you are a genius and a true craftsmen. Your leather strops have no equal. THATS A FACT!!!!!

Here is the final outcome. A stropping paradise, considering it's located in a basement.
Double Barreled Lipshaws Har!!!
Thanks for looking,
Darl (Tarkus)

Oh! That is off the CHAIN! Sweet setup, Darl!
You could sit on one and strop on the other! Er, not exactly a travel strop, eh? HAR!
Tom

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Oh! That is off the CHAIN! Sweet setup, Darl!
You could sit on one and strop on the other! Er, not exactly a travel strop, eh? HAR!
Tom

You know what they say? Go big or go home.
Oh wait I am home. Har!!!

Not sure how it all works but it must be worth it to take up the floor space. hmmm do I want 1 ? I want everything :<0)
Cool set up congrats on trap the elephant/whale/Lipper thing.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Not sure how it all works but it must be worth it to take up the floor space. hmmm do I want 1 ? I want everything :<0)
Cool set up congrats on trap the elephant/whale/Lipper thing.

Ha!!! Its basically a double sided strop block that by flipping the lever unlocks the unit allowing it to rotate to the other side. The cool thing is there full size panels so plenty of leather real estate.

So, How does that textured Russsian feel to you? Mine is quite zippy! Seems to me it will make a fine pre-smooth leather strop in leiu of fabric.

The diamond strop...this one still puzzles me. It is stage one right? So it takes the place of linen, cotton, seatbelt, etc. But it seems so different from those materials. Does the rubber have a unique purpose or do you think you would achieve the same results with a more traditional material?

Originally Posted by WW243

The diamond strop...this one still puzzles me. It is stage one right? So it takes the place of linen, cotton, seatbelt, etc. But it seems so different from those materials. Does the rubber have a unique purpose or do you think you would achieve the same results with a more traditional material?

WW243, what is a, or the, "diamond strop", haven't heard of that before, is it a brand or a type of strop?

Tarkus - very interesting device, you obviously think very highly of these, how in your opinion does it improve on stropping using a hanging strop, or as mentioned, a regular paddle / modular strop?

Originally Posted by WW243

The diamond strop...this one still puzzles me. It is stage one right? So it takes the place of linen, cotton, seatbelt, etc. But it seems so different from those materials. Does the rubber have a unique purpose or do you think you would achieve the same results with a more traditional material?

If I may, the 'diamond' strop on these has no diamonds, rather it has a diamond shaped pattern milled, or impressed into a leather strop and (I think) is treated somehow with a black material, seemingly rubberized. This side was used as a precursor to the leather side as stropping the microtome blades and is quite nice, used same, with straight razors. The strops units themselves are heavy-duty and sturdy items with nice covers and a padding of foam rubber or felt under the strops for cushion. The leather on them originally was super-nice, but most have gone the way of other old leather strops, dry, cut, etc. Neil's new panels have rendered them like new again with many varieties of leather avaliable. The 'Diamond' material in leiu of fabric is their biggest virtue second to a sweet stropping platform. In fact, the textured Russian which Neil has come along with feels similar. I am currently beginning tests with it as well!

Lipshaw's 'diamond' strop surface, 1st pic.
Neil's Textured Russian calf, second pic.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

What's the usable stropping length?

Very cool units!

Neil! Thank you for helping bring them back to life!! :