Thread: My new strop!...Sorta.

Hey folks.

Until recently, I made do with a paddle strop. This kept my razor in good nick, but the weight of the strop in my hand all the time was irritating and I wasn't able to strop particularly effectively.

Today, while at the local flea-market, I purchased a second-hand hanging-strop! Finally! Here's a few photos:







It's in good condition and I have cleaned it up a bit. The photos you see here were how the strop looked the moment I got it home.

I have a few questions about it.

1. Why is it set up the way it is? Instead of a swivel at the top, it's got the rollers which lets me pull on one or the other end of the strop, to use either side of the leather.

2. How old is it? I'm assuming it has to be pretty old, because it was very heavily patina'd, as you can see in some of the photos.

Strop's about two and a bit inches wide, about 12-14 inches of usable leather, probably about 15 inches of leather in all. Leather is smooth, without nicks or cuts or rips and perfect for regular razor-maintenance.

At the moment, this hangs on the back of my bathroom door. I added a length of chain (about twelve inches) to the hook at the top of the strop so that it hangs down a bit lower from the clothes-hooks at the back of the door, that way I can grab it more effectively and I don't have to stretch my arms all the way up.

That looks like a home-made strop to me. The mechanism at the top is from (or looks to be from) one of those ratchet style nylon strap tie-downs used to secure motorcycles or other items to trailers. It looks as if someone used that portion of it and riveted on the handles. Regardless, if it functions, the form doesn't matter.

bill

Actually, looking at the top mechanism, it more resembles the cam action tie downs than the ratchet. In the cam styles you loosen the cam clamp, pull the webbed strap through tightening down the tie down, then snap the cam closed on the webbing to secure it. It looks as if the webbed strap has been replaced with leather.

Hi Bill,

I kinda suspected that this might be home-made, it looked pretty unconventional, but I reckon it works well and it looked to be in good condition, so I bought it.

LOOKS LIKE A GREAT BUY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO NOW IS A FEW DROPS OF NEETSFOOT OIL ON THE PALM OF YOUR HAND AND AS LYNN A. HAS RECOMENDED MANY TIME, RUB WITH YOUR HAND BACK AND FORTH 50 OR 100 TIMES SEMI-DAILY AND IT SHOULD BE AND OR STAY SUPPLE AND GIVE YOU RAZOR A GREAT ''DRAW''. I LOVE THE PHOTOS ALSO BY THE WAY!!

TINKERSD OF 'SRP'!

Hi Tinker!

Thanks for the compliments! I'm honestly a terrible photographer! I'm amazed these turned out so good.

What fluids or oils can I add to the leather to give it strength and look after it? I don't have any neetsfoot oil with me anywhere. I have read about rubbing the strop with one's hands, but is there anything else that I might/should need to add to the strop? I'm not interested in sharpening pastes or anything, just something to keep the integrity of the leather.

I don't think it's home made. I was perusing a junk shop two days ago, and encountered a strop exactly like that, but not in quite as good condition. The shopkeeper wasn't exactly sure if it was a razor strop or not, and it looked pretty strange to me, so I passed on it. Now I'm intrigued, I think I'll go take a closer look on Monday.

Shangas, if you can find some neatsfoot oil, a tiny bottle will last a lifetime. Some drugstores will have it, not many, but you might try a sporting goods store where baseball gloves and such are sold. Or if you have a farm supply nearby they'll almost certainly have it for saddles or bridles. A few ounces will cost $5 or so but it's all you'll ever need. Lexol is another good saddle or bridle creme that could be used and will do almost as good a job on brittle leather as neatsfoot oil. I've heard some say mineral oil will work, I can't attest to this as I use the neatsfoot. One time per year and sparingly at that.

Skin oils from your palm of your hand, around your nose and forehead, work too. You just don't get enough in a single try to work an entire piece of leather..it'd take a while.

Have fun!
bill

with the two handles and the mechanised center this kinda looks like it was ment for a DE blade, see the side where theres a pin split down the middle and space for a blade to slide in?

Hey K/boi,

I had considered a DE blade strop, but I'm not sure. I have seen one similar to what you describe, but I think that was for the disposable SE razors, not DE razors. I'm really not sure exactly what this is. All I know is that it's a strop and that's good enough for me. I'm stroppin' the razor on it But if anyone has any extra insight...that'd be great.

I aint sure either but I have seen very similar strops on the bay so Im guessin it aint home made , and they have mostly been DE related as KalgoorlieBoi suggested ...hmmm long as she gets done alls good