Thread: making a strop

what materials , as in what type, grade of leather could be used to make a strop?

how should it be treated?

just asking as itsreally cheap to buy leather and have custom items made so.....

I thought this was just discussed in another thread??

Yes you could make one. Usually people use D Rings from their local hardware store. Just be sure whatever leather you buy is a good quality and smooth.

As far as treating it youll get several different answers. Some use needs foot oil, lather, saddle soap, mink oil, and others. I personally use the palm of my hand. Every day I run my unwashed hand over my strops. The oils from my palm treats the leather.

sorry if its an old thread and i missed it , ya I know about using the oils of your hand or neats foot or .....
what I meant my question to adress was the treatment of the leather in the curing phase after it is taken off the cow or kangaroo or sheep or dog or what ever it is take off of.

I have an old DD strop and I have never seen leather that smooth before its why i ask.

ahhh the process of tanning. I have no idea. Sorry

Originally Posted by shayne

I have an old DD strop and I have never seen leather that smooth before its why i ask.

Depends - is it an old Dubl Duck shell strop? or is it cow hide? Cordovan shell strops are naturally smoother because of the material used and it's processing. Cow hide often needs special treatment after market by the user to break in and smooth out. Things such as a pumice stone and/ or a straight sided glass bottle used with both shaving lather and strop dressing are the traditional barber's methods.

Another factor to consider in the making of a strop is the direction of the hides grain. Should run parallel to the length of the strop. Also, some of the better strops of old were slightly tapered, thicker at one end and thinner at the other. The bottom end being slightly thicker IIRC.

Maybe what your asking for is chrome tanned versu vegtable tanned?
Veg tanned cowhide is the norm.

Originally Posted by honedright

Cow hide often needs special treatment after market by the user to break in and smooth out. Things such as a pumice stone and/ or a straight sided glass bottle used with both shaving lather and strop dressing are the traditional barber's methods.

First time I have read that, thank you. Do you think it is superior to a regular round glass bottle?

Originally Posted by randydance062449

First time I have read that, thank you. Do you think it is superior to a regular round glass bottle?

Randy,

You might have thought I meant a flat sided bottle? I meant a round bottle, but one that isn't tapered from one end to the other as some bottles, such as some wine or liqueur bottles are. For instance, most 12 oz beer bottles, esp American domestic beers, are the same diameter from shoulder to base. That's what I meant by straight. I also meant to indicate a bottle with no embossing or other type of raised design. In fact, if a beer bottle is used, most have a mold seem which should be avoided.

If I created some confusion, I hope that clears it up.

BTW: a round tapered bottle will work, it's just very awkward to use.

Thanks for clarifying that. I should have read the post with more care.