Thread: Kangaroo ideas

Originally Posted by Kees

All sorts of leathers have been used for strops, just try it.

Not only leather, but different materials. Denim and even newspaper have been used...

Here it is, the Kanga-Paddle. Or the Paddle-Roo?

Whatever...

It's just a little over 3" wide and has a stropping area 15" long. I treated the handle and sides with bees wax polish and I think I might put a balsa veneer on the other side for paste. Or rubber feet. Or both. That way I can lay the thing flat on the deck without the balsa getting dented.

I really like the feel of it and the size. All the other paddle strops I've seen have been on the skimpy side. This one is wide enough to strop any razor without an X if you want to.

The only problem is it raises a few eyebrows when people see it in my bathroom and don't know what it's for.

Theoretically speaking while we are on this subject, human skin *would* be the finest leather but we don't kill humans and turn them into leather Think of the poor Kangaroos!

Really nice work Legion.

I have always wanted a Roo hide bullwhip from Australia - finest whip makers in the world!

Now I have a second Roo hide object to want.

That's beautiful!!

How do you like it compared to a bovine leather strop?

Originally Posted by Alembic

Really nice work Legion.

I have always wanted a Roo hide bullwhip from Australia - finest whip makers in the world!

Now I have a second Roo hide object to want.

Yeah, I have a couple of roo stock whips from when I was working out in the bush and cowboying for tourists. But that is a story for another day.

I don't have a huge amount of experience with lots of different strops. I'm kind of new to the whole straight razor business.

Comparing it to my Tony Miller practice strop, which is the other one I am using at the moment. The leather is thinner and softer. It has a slight, almost velvety feel. While the TM strop feels like a good saddle, smooth and slightly waxy, the closest thing I can compare the roo to is actual human skin, as someone mentioned before. It feels a bit like the skin on the back of you hand, I guess.

It's really a nice leather. I'll have to use the strop more to truly give a proper evaluation but I have been stropping on the hide just laid on the edge of a table for a while now, and it seems to work really well.

If I was to make a hanging strop from it (which I might) I think I will bond it to a piece of cow leather on the other side. Not because I think the cow leather would do a better job of stropping (My initial feelings are the kangaroo is superior) but because it will give the roo some more support and thickness. Then I might paste oxide on the the cow? We'll see...

I had some boots made from kangaroo leather in Thailand when I was in the Army. I always thought that kangaroo leather would make a great strop. Why don't you try to make a premium product and sell them?

I like the idea of a roo leather strop

Originally Posted by John Crowley

I had some boots made from kangaroo leather in Thailand when I was in the Army. I always thought that kangaroo leather would make a great strop. Why don't you try to make a premium product and sell them?

Actually a couple of people have inquired. It is something I am giving serious thought to. I want to give the prototype a good workout to make sure there are no changes that should be made, so that might take a little time. Also, and the main problem at the moment, is the fact that I don't have a workshop or power tools at the moment. Making prototypes by hand is one thing, but if I was to make them commercially the labor involved in 100% hand crafting things would drive the price beyond what 99.9% of people would be prepared to pay.

Having said that, in the new year I should have these problems partially addressed. And expect to see a few more StropperRoo prototypes, possibly some for sale. And maybe some matching brushes, if I can lay my hands on a lathe.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Dear Aussies,

Please stop hoarding all the roo.

Kind regards,
Dylan - USA

Gonna have to agree with this. Ever since I saw the ones Jimbo made it's basically been the only thing I've ever wanted.