Thread: Strop Leather

Hey guys, I'm a full newbie, but I'd like to make my own strop. Suggestions on leathers, thickness needed, or things to avoid?

What are you trying to make, a bench strop?
I have made two bench strops from hand America stropping leather that I picked up from Woodcraft down the street, and it works very well! I would guess that most any vegetable tanned leather would work fine, the thickness will vary and so at least some degree is a personal preference. Use a nice piece of hardwood, my first attempt at a bench strop used a basswood back and it didn't work too well.

Been on my list of things to do as well. Ive heard good things about the store Tandys, is about all at this point.
So hopefully someone who has will help us both out.

Thickness in leather typically measured in ounces, and usually comes in a range. Other than personal preference, thickness of the leather has very little impact on how the strop works. 8oz leather is just over 3mm or 1/8th of an inch. I like 6-8oz, or 8-10oz leather for strops. The 8-10 can be a little thick to fold over a hanger, without having the tools to work it. Tandy leather is a great place to be able to get your hands on the leather before you buy it, but Springfield Leather is another place to get it. Unlike Tandy, they will cut leather for you. If you tell them you are looking for leather for a strop with no grain defects, they can help you find it.

The best cut is from the length of the spine for anything other than horse shells.