Thread: Material for strop

I am looking to make a strop. Would like advice on what to get for material. The only thing I have used is the poor man strop I got from Whipped Dog. The draw seems alright to me. Don't think I would want to go to latigo from what I have heard.

I was thinking of going to Tandy Leather or maybe a shoe repair shop and see if I could get something. Any suggestions would be appreciated for places to shop for leather and types of leather to look at, and the hardware to connect to a hook. Probably stay with barber end.

I also have a question about the fabric stop. When is this used. The ones I have seen on video are the poly webbing and don't really like the sound.

Joe

here's a link to find the hardware I would recommend chicago screws to hold it together and a harness shop is also a good place to find leather. The fabric component is used before the leather. it cleans and dries the blade and can have some abrasive quality depending on the material or compound used on it.

Make sure it is vegetable tanned. If you can get your hands on fire hose like they put in emergency cabinets of high rise buildings that would work well. Tandy has the 'D'rings and Chicago screws for joining everything together. Or you can pick up a vintage strop cheap just for the hardware.

I second the worn out strop for some hardware.

Go to Amazon and make a search for "Bakers Linen". get some and use it to make a real linen strop. If the material is thin use a backing material to sew it to.

Thanks for the replies.
As far as the leather does it have to be prepared in any way; is it just a piece of leather or does it have to be made specially for a strop?

Just a piece of leather. No more no less.

I agree with the suggestion to buy a vintage strop from Ebay etc. for the hardware. You will also get to see the thickness of leather to look for and the suppleness .
Just be sure it is vegtable tanned, not chrome tanned.

A flax/linen strop has been a quest for a lot of us and old, unlined fire hoses will work but youneed to clean them, and stretch them while drying or else they will bunch up/wrinkle and you cannot iron them out.

Another good option is a hemp strop, but to get it soft you need to put it in a washing machine.
Bluesman7 ( Victor Creazzi) is the person I learned this from.

Hope this helps,

The trouble with tandy I have found is that unless you buy a piece for a belt you have to buy half a hide. If you want to experiment that is great. just 1 not. The back is better. The closer to the belly you get it works but is less desirable.

Originally Posted by 32t

The trouble with tandy I have found is that unless you buy a piece for a belt you have to buy half a hide. If you want to experiment that is great. just 1 not. The back is better. The closer to the belly you get it works but is less desirable.

If you have a Tandy store nearby, You call them to see if they have some 3-4 inch wide strips of Veg Tanned leather. I was fortunate to find some at the one in MPLS a while back in the marked down area.
Thanks Randy!

~Richard