First DIY Strop.

First post on SRP! This site has gotten me through the first 7 months of straight razors and continues to be the #1 resource for all my questions.

Like a lot of people here, I started with a RupRazor starter strop (Ken is an great guy and has a great starter strop). I was ready to move to the next step, but wasn't finding what I wanted in my price range. Instead of settling, I tried building my own. After finding a source of leather, a few hand tools from Tandy, and some brass hardware, I was on my way. Results below.

In the end I had a 3 inch wide, 18 inch long English Bridle. I spent a lot more than I wanted to but I'm happy and also bought a strong sense of accomplishment.



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Nice job very flash for a first shot

Nice job, I like it.

Okay, not other way to say it, but you did a kick-butt job! That is beautiful. Have you worked with leather before? I like the lines running down both sides. The strop looks like a pro made it. I can’t tell from the pictures - were you able to round the edges of your strop? I’ve heard that using a rounding tool can be a bit of touch and go process. I guess if you slip with the round-over tool, you’ve just ruined your project.
Thanks for posting. You did an excellent job. Keep up the great work.

Beautiful strop. Great job. How was the cost compaired to buying one?

yes, nice job! as a leather worker myself, i can appreciate that professional looking strop.

Thanks bruseth. This was a second attempt, the first being a 2in strip of red latigo that was constructed well but had waaayy too much draw and was very waxy. Other than that, no leather experience at all. Just a lot of videos and reading before I started.

Those lines are made with a leather groover designed for leather stitching. I saw other strops with it and thought it looked sharp. Figured out how they did it and added to mine. The edges in these photos were cut with an edger, but not smoothed. A few days ago the frays were bothering me (just a little OCD) so I went and bought a slicker (wooden spool) and some beeswax and cleaned them up. My hands were cramped up by the end, but it looks even better now.

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Very nice job, simple but with some nice touches of elegance.

If you plan on making only one strop for yourself and are trying to save a buck...I would recommend staying with one of the many you can buy online. Through this project, I learned that buying quality leather in small amounts is expensive because you're paying for someone else to process it (3x as expensive). Hardware is also not so cheap since you are not buying in bulk. The brass was also about 3x more expensive than chrome or nickel plated, and given that I specifically wanted antique brass hardware, I spent more there too.

Overall, I spent a little over $100 in materials alone, and made three strops in the end. The tools, beeswax, conditioner, neatsfoot oil were probably an additional $100 (some I had on hand already). To try to make up for my losses (and grief from my wife), I started a shop on Etsy and posted the two extras I made . If the go soon, I may bite the bullet and go for a whole hide.

Very nice indeed: I can see a new income source for you on that WWW auction site.

Haha. I guess I should read the forum rules...are we not supposed to mention auction sites and what we may be putting on them? I'm definitely keeping this at the hobby level, making only enough to feed my RAD and SAD.

Tintin, any recommendations for slicking tight corners and notches? I had no luck getting to where the D-ring and clasp feed through. Is this where an edge dressing would have been better?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JustAKnick

Thanks bruseth. This was a second attempt, the first being a 2in strip of red latigo that was constructed well but had waaayy too much draw and was very waxy. Other than that, no leather experience at all. Just a lot of videos and reading before I started.

Those lines are made with a leather groover designed for leather stitching. I saw other strops with it and thought it looked sharp. Figured out how they did it and added to mine. The edges in these photos were cut with an edger, but not smoothed. A few days ago the frays were bothering me (just a little OCD) so I went and bought a slicker (wooden spool) and some beeswax and cleaned them up. My hands were cramped up by the end, but it looks even better now.

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Yeah, nice rounded-over and burnished edges really put the finishing touches on your strop. I think that ‘going that extra mile’ classes up a project - time well spent. You seem to have a natural talent for this sort of thing. Maybe you’ll want to hang in there and expand your leather-working repertoire. I very much admire the work you do. I have a great respect for craftspeople, and folks who are willing and able to work with their hands. Especially those who work the ‘old time’ crafts like leather-working and woodworking.
Keep up the good work, and thanks for the reply.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JustAKnick

Tintin, any recommendations for slicking tight corners and notches? I had no luck getting to where the D-ring and clasp feed through. Is this where an edge dressing would have been better?

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I made this little burnisher that fits in my dremel tool. it's just a screw that i put a piece of wood (walnut in this case) on and turned on my drill press. it's about a half inch at its largest diameter. it really speeds up the burnishing process. you have to be careful not to burn the leather.
i use Gum tragacanth followed by a mixture of bees wax and parafin.
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Thanks bruseth for the compliment and words of encouragement!

Tintin, Thanks for the assistance. I think I might work on making my own this weekend. That is an awesome idea. I'm sure it will work on my cordless drill just as well (maybe a bit more cumbersome) or maybe I'll dive in on a dremel. The one I picked up is about 1.5 inches in diameter and useless for the tight spots.