Thread: Leather Quality for use in srtop(ping)

That is supposed to say "strop(ping)"

Is there a best or worst quality or type of leather for use a a strop?

What qualities of characteristics should one look for in leather to determine whether a strop is 'good' or 'bad'?

The strop leather should have a smooth surface free from defects creases scars brand marks.
It should be heavy enough.
It should not cup when correctly mounted and placed under tension.

The thin split leather used on some furniture would be trouble along
with shoe sole leather.

Strops break in and improve with time or not. Mostly they improve.

I have a lot of stuff from SaddleBack Leather and they tout 'full grain' cowhide as being the best leather. Not sure how it would work for strops but it's really nice hide.

Vegetable tanned horsehide 7-9 oz (horse butt strips are best) should be the best leather (other than horse shell, which is expensive, and rather thin and delicate nowdays, unlike in the past) you can buy for diy strop. The other option would be vegetable tanned australian roo leather. Both have light draw, quite effective for razors. Cow leather can have very heavy draw....you would have to really check it first how it is tanned.....but I would only personally consider horse or roo pieces, with lots of preparation before use.

The best leather is closest to the spine of the beast.
The closer to the belly the more prone to cupping & crowning.

I have a wonderful leather strop that is made from a strip near the horses belly. It is pretty nice and has nice draw and is very very soft. I did get the strop from a leatherworker here.

Originally Posted by kelbro

I have a lot of stuff from SaddleBack Leather and they tout 'full grain' cowhide as being the best leather. Not sure how it would work for strops but it's really nice hide.

I have a couple wallets and a belt from Saddleback. The stuff they make is really heavy duty industrial strength leather. My belt has developed a character that doesn't make for a good strop.

Yep. Seems heavy duty.

Over the years I have accumulated quite a bit of their stuff. Large briefcase, couple of wallets, large notepad, moleskin cover, iPad case, and iPhone case. Yeah, I got it bad LOL but I appreciate fine leather.

Don't even ask about rifle scabbards and pistola holsters!

It really depends on how the leather is treated. I have a vegetable tanned cowhide strop. Medium to light draw, it is great for my stropping needs.

Then again, that's what you'd expect from a Scrupleworks strop (that it's great strop, not necessarily that it has a light draw).

You'll find that most leathers work just fine, as there is really no way leather abrades steel. It's more about stropping comfort and personal preference in that regard.

For instance, while horse shell is very suitable for strops, it usually has very little draw; which is why it's not my favourite stropping material.

Please define "draw".

Thanks!