Thread: Kangaroo travel strop

Originally Posted by Birnando

Mark.
Although not the OP's product, I've been using my Roo strop(one of MickR's) for its ability to be rolled up. It is thin and seems to be easily rolled up without much problems at all. I have not yet noticed any defects on it from this use.
It really is a fine performer as well. The thinness is a bit weird at first, but the Roo is fine for stropping.

So any roo can be safely rolled? Remember: I'm not a strop guy. I've got one and I like it, but I can't resist grabbing one of these to travel with.

By the way, you're coming to London for the next RazorCon, right? We've got some whisky to drink.

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

So any roo can be safely rolled? Remember: I'm not a strop guy. I've got one and I like it, but I can't resist grabbing one of these to travel with.

By the way, you're coming to London for the next RazorCon, right? We've got some whisky to drink.

I'm really no expert on Roo at all, but mine seems to work fine after it has been rolled up
By the way, it's the same as Stu showed us at the razorCon at DR Harris.

Yessir, I'm gonna attend the RazorCon. I'll be sure to bring you and Scipio a tub of the Fitjar as well.
I only hope I have time to heal, I managed to destroy my foot. 25 fractures, and a full hardware store installed down there. In a cast right now, but healing fine.
Can't wait for that sip of Whisky!!

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

I've been watching this thread since it started, and all I can say is that I want one.

I don't spend much time in the strop forum at all. Mostly I read the hone forums. I also have no real need for a new strop, not really, but I must say that the travell roo strop has got me thinking. Right now I've got a big Neil Miller strop for my home, and I love it. But for traveling I've got a TI travel strop. It's not bad, but I wish I could travel with a reasonably-sized three-inch hanging strop.

My questions are as strop-ignorant as they are simple:
Are you using roo hide because it it's thinner than other strop leather?
I've always read that rolling strops would stretch or crease the leather. Is the Roo leather especially resistant to these problem due to its thin nature?

p.s. the Brass tube modification is brilliant. A genuine improvement.

The reason why roo hide is ideal for this purpose is not just its thinness but its strength. Roo hide has about the highest tensile strength, for its weight, of any leather. If you tried to do this trick with any other type of leather, which was equivelently thin, it would just stretch into odd shapes or tear at the holes.

As an addition to what has already been stated, 'roo hide has a very fine grain, and when it comes to that final polish on a razors edge, 'roo hide excels. I've used nothing but 'roo hide for some time. No cloth, webbing, canvas. Just 'roo hide. My own personal satisfaction levels are always met. I strop before my shave, and then another quick strop at the end, for getting rid of any pesky unseen bits of moisture.
I've also made myself a basic 'roohide travel strop. I always roll it up and throw it into the dopp kit. Then hang it when I get to my destination. I roll mine around the dee ring ends, but it would still be better to roll it around a small cylinder rather than dee rings. As the dee's make it look funny for a bit. The 'roo always comes good with a hanging though and will always pull out drum tight. I wouldn't try it with any other type of leather as it would ruin those strops.
Legions idea of a Travel strop, I think is bloody awesome. I've already said I wished I had have thought of it myself. It would roll beautifully for travel. And would look just fine at the end of the day. Kudo's to you once again Legion, for a top design.
All the strops that I've made have been cut from hides that were kept rolled, and indeed, when I buy the hides, they are rolled up already at the Tannery.


Mick

Legion

You keep tantalizing me with your roo strops. Stand by for my second order......

I thought of this and bought the required materials months ago, but I never got around to making the finished product. Nice to see someone else who actually made the effort

That's a dang fine nice strop! Great idea, making it roll up into a tin too. That's genuine genius right there.

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

So any roo can be safely rolled?

I would recommend you be really quiet, sneak up and preferably be armed. I would also give consideration to the fact that they don't carry much of value on them compared to the risk involved.


Mick

Thanks for that Mick.

Yes, I guess any roo leather will roll up OK. Some work better at stropping than others though. Ideally you would want the leather to be vegetable tanned rather than chrome tanned. It works a lot better. You also want to make sure the hide is 1st grade, because roo leather is usually full of scars. Some might be just cosmetic, but others will have an effect on the blade. The hides aren't big, so you dont want to be cutting around scars all the time.

Very good solution for a traveller. I heard kangaroo leather is very good for strops.