Thread: The JimboRoo

If he can do it, so can you; do yourself a favor and make a JimboRoo

The first thing I noticed about Jimbo's kangaroo leather strop is the consistent, mild draw that is present along the entire length and width of the strop on every kind of shave ready razor I have. The full hollow does not get bogged down in the strop and yet the wedge has nearly the same feel. The feedback is neither overbearing nor subtle. The leather is effortlessly pulled taut without any noticeable springiness or stretch and really does put a nice smooth edge on a blade.

As the leather is so thin, the strop is lightweight. The leather is not as soft as my Well Shaved Gentleman latigo strop, but not as stiff as my Illinois strop. Stropping on it is wonderful. It feels somewhat slick even with the moderate draw which is an odd sensation. This seems to allow for high stropping speed without sacrificing the great contact with the razor edge. I haven't been counting the number of laps I've been using, but either because the strop is so light and easily pulled tight or because I am stropping faster or because the strop is just more efficient, I can tell the razor is good to go before I am ready to stop stropping!

I let out a groan this morning as I nicked one end of the strop. It was a curious experience, as the poked leather did not seem to want to peel away or flap up like my latigo strop always did. Rather, the cut seems more like a very thin and very shallow crack in the leather. Notice all the verys (veries?) I just used.

I am trying now to determine whether or not I still need my linen strop. I hope I will know within a month or two.

Thanks Jimbo

PS Jimbo's handiwork is not to be sneezed at either. It has a definite home-made feel without the sloppiness you might expect of a kindergartner. This one has welded D rings riveted into both ends, and is actually two separate attached strips of leather allowing two treated stropping surfaces.

AHSRS - Advanced Hoglahoo Strap Rating System (tm)

Feedback: !!!!!
Speed: !!!!!
Durability: !!!!
Portability: !!!!!
Size: 16" stropping length, 60 mm stropping width (~2.5"), and thickness 1 mm per strip
Craftsmanship: 100% Jimbo

Firsthand information about the making of the strop in this review may be found here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-kangaroo.html
The review can also be found here with ratings: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-jimboroo.html

Thanks Jimbo!

Now I've got to go googling for kangaroo leather! Looks very nice indeed.

Oh, & how thick is the leather? You say it's thin, but what are we talking? Thank you!

Nice review Lee. I have used mine only 2 or 3 times but my findings so far have been similar to yours...except the part about the nick. I would also add that there is something of a magnetic sensation when you strop that goes beyond the draw! Great work James!!

Very nice review. I am enjoying mine too. Definitely different but very effective. I am wondering if trying some type of backing would give it a different feel as well.

Thanks James!!

Lynn

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Oh, & how thick is the leather? You say it's thin, but what are we talking?

Without having it in front of me, I can guess it seems credit card thin, or perhaps thinner. Quite strong though. The slip-knotted leather tassle tied to the D-ring is also quite strong

Wow. It looked nice, but that's a pretty glowing review. How much do you think it would suffer from being rolled into a kit bag?

X

Originally Posted by xman

Wow. It looked nice, but that's a pretty glowing review. How much do you think it would suffer from being rolled into a kit bag?

X

It has a memory but a little work or weight would straighten it right up after unrolling!
More memory than regular cow or horse hide.

You've made it to the big time James, as Lynn has commented on your strop!

I came accross this while i was googling it. It explains why it can be so much thinner, yet retain such strength.
Review - Kangaroo Leather

No sweat glands, you know!

Thank you for the review Lee. I especially love the strap rating system!

And thanks guys for the very constructive comments on the leather.

I have stopped using my other strops I must admit - I like the Roo leather so much. I am intending to make some more single-sided strops next month. Again, I will not sell these. I intend to donate a few to SRP for the giveaways (if they want them, that is), and I have already promised some to others as well. Any, if any, that remain I will give away, perhaps to the people who can come up with the best baudy limericks!

James.