Thread: Just made a DIY strop, but have a couple Q's

Hey guys I decided to make my own strop today but now have a couple questions about the quality of leather I used. I went to Tandy Leather and purchased a 3" by 50" raw cow hide strip with a couple "D" rings and screws. It's nothing fancy but I'm hoping it gets the job done. My question is how "smooth" does the leather have to be? Should I treat the leather with anything before stroping or is this leather good to go? I see that the leather has a couple wrinkles but nothing that I thought was too flawed. Maybe some of you guys on here can shed some light on this. If pictures of the strop would help let me know and I can upload some later on. Thanks!

From the sound of it, you used their veg tanned hide. nothing wrong with that, but you may want to consider rubbing some neatsfoot oil onto that new strop. When I made my first strop, I used latigo and didn't find the need to oil it up. Make sure to post some pics when you can.

I've made several strops now.. and the quality of the leather is VERY important.
I always look for a piece of leather that shows no wrinkles or scars, and more importantly, feels smooth (I use a test razor the get a feel for how it works). If it doesn't fee perfectly smooth under the razor I don't use it.

Sanding the leather down with #400 sandpaper (and then #600 and #800,) will improve a marginal piece. Leather seems to be able to absorb a lot of sanding. It also seems to improve the draw.

Originally Posted by wdwrx

I've made several strops now.. and the quality of the leather is VERY important.
I always look for a piece of leather that shows no wrinkles or scars, and more importantly, feels smooth (I use a test razor the get a feel for how it works). If it doesn't fee perfectly smooth under the razor I don't use it.

Sanding the leather down with #400 sandpaper (and then #600 and #800,) will improve a marginal piece. Leather seems to be able to absorb a lot of sanding. It also seems to improve the draw.

Ok so sanding should help, good. Should i keep the sanding parallel to the strip or can i just sand in circles and whath not? A couple passes of sanding and then a light oil should improve the strop... thanks for the info and i looking forward to making this happen. Maybe next time ill just pick up a nicer piece of leather and save me the work lol. I was just drawn to the 3" wide piece and the fact that's it was already cut.

Oh and here are some pictures, i got a coupe close ups of the scars on the leather(on the bottom picture), dont know if they will hurt the blade when im stroping, you more expierienced strop DIYer let me know, thanks!

That little scar looks exactly like a scar I got from a some barbed wire once

It might sand out. Try it and see. It doesn't look too bad. As long as you don't feel your razor bump over it I think it should be fine. Strops tend to collect small nicks and such as they go along, this one just came with it.

Be sure to use wet/dry sand paper. Regular sand paper will shed grit into the leather. Some guys use pumice stone. Never tried that one so I can't say anything about it.

BTW, that's a nice looking strop!

When I got my leather in that 50" size, there was enough to make a nice pasted strop too...check into that and you'll keep that razor in great shape for a long time

Before you sand your strop, cut a piece of brown paper grocery bag the width of a bottle, jar or can, wrap with the paper. Then rub the strop vigorously with the paper up & down from end to end. Roll the devise to expose new sections of paper and continue to burnish the leather.

I would not worry about the scar the razor will float over the gap, but next time buy the piece with the least scaring.

The brown paper will burnish the leather and clean a soiled piece without embedding particles of sanding medium on to the leather. Finish burnishing with just a glass jar or bottle. Then try it.

Rub with your palm to oil and add some oil if you require more draw but doubt you will need it to start.

I don’t recommend sanding as you are imbedding sanding medium in the leather.

Nice strop, enjoy.

Marty

For a first attempt that is a nice looking strop. Did the leather vendor sell the D rings, and the hardware too?

I've been using Lexol (brown bottle) to condition my strop with an I would highly reccomend it, just be prepared to apply it a bunch of times as dry leather will soak up a ton of it but afterwards it is BBS with no waxy residue and super supple