Thread: My first attempt at making a strop

Very nice! If you get a edger to cut the corners of the edge of the leather, take some of that duck cloth, and get it wet. Rub it back and fourth along the edge quickly and you will smooth and burnish the edge nicely. As far as stitching, a punch will get you quick even results, but if you want the thread to sit below the surface of the leather, you will need a stich groover, overstitch awl and a diamond shaped awl. Once you have the tools, its not that hard to do.

How do you think the canvas will hold up to use?

Canvas, holds up very well, you don’t even need to fold over and glue the edges, though OP’s looks very finished.

You can just cut canvas to width and use as is. It will fray a bit, just don’t pull on the threads, cut with a sharp scissor, will last a lifetime.

Canvas is great for paste, the finer the weave the better.

It is a very nice, professional looking strop, great work and attention to detail.

Originally Posted by Drygulch

Very nice! If you get a edger to cut the corners of the edge of the leather, take some of that duck cloth, and get it wet. Rub it back and fourth along the edge quickly and you will smooth and burnish the edge nicely. As far as stitching, a punch will get you quick even results, but if you want the thread to sit below the surface of the leather, you will need a stich groover, overstitch awl and a diamond shaped awl. Once you have the tools, its not that hard to do.

How do you think the canvas will hold up to use?

Thanks for the advice I'll give burnishing a go this weekend when I've got a bit of spare time and I'm attempting to make another strop.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Canvas, holds up very well, you don’t even need to fold over and glue the edges, though OP’s looks very finished.

You can just cut canvas to width and use as is. It will fray a bit, just don’t pull on the threads, cut with a sharp scissor, will last a lifetime.

Canvas is great for paste, the finer the weave the better.

It is a very nice, professional looking strop, great work and attention to detail.

Thanks for the advice I think I'll try as you suggest just cutting the canvas to see how it holds out I was thinking of doing a double canvas only strop for some chromium oxide and diamond spray so may as well experiment .

Welcome to the forum stormcrowuk. That's a good looking first strop. Good effort! What leather have you used?

Originally Posted by wayne394

Welcome to the forum stormcrowuk. That's a good looking first strop. Good effort! What leather have you used?

Thanks Wayne I bought it from ebay its Veg Tanned Bridle 3.8mm thick 3" wide.
I've since then bought some 3" Hemp webbing which arrived today it looks to my uneducated eye to be suitable so I''l be giving that a go soon.

Looks quite functional, well done!