Kangaroo travel strop

My problem has always been keeping a strop small enough to travel with easily. Up until now I have used a paddle strop, and that worked, but it was still too big to fit into my Dopp kit with the rest of my shaving gear.

This, I think, is the answer.

It would never work with any other type of leather. But the thinness and tensile strength of kangaroo leather means that I can make a usable sized strop (This one is 2 1/8" X 17 1/4") but have it still thin enough to roll up and put into a travel tube.

The leather has almost no stretch, and has 3/16" brass rod in the top and bottom, so it stays nice and flat during use. I just drilled a dice to make the handle because I couldn't find a bead that looked any good around the house. That will do for the prototype. The thong is also kangaroo, to keep it thin yet strong enough. It is a good, simple way of securing a travel strop, because you can just tie it to whatever is handy in the hotel room, camp ground, railway freight carriage, etc. :p

I just tried it on a 7/8 full wedge and it worked fine!

What do you think?

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000204.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000202.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000199.jpg

Wow that looks amazing.

Looks fantastic!

What kind of pins/screws are those?

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Originally Posted by TheZ

Looks fantastic!

What kind of pins/screws are those?

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Ahhh... They are one of the secret ingredients. They are 1/8 Chicago screws, never seen before in captivity.

What do I think? Well....necessity has always been the mother of invention, and this is clearly no exception. I also love hanging strops, so that fact that you've made a "shorty" is just pure genius.

You're in the same league as the gentleman who invented variable speed windshield wipers, and the person who invented toast.

:D

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Originally Posted by Maxi

What do I think? Well....necessity has always been the mother of invention, and this is clearly no exception. I also love hanging strops, so that fact that you've made a "shorty" is just pure genius.

You're in the same league as the gentleman who invented variable speed windshield wipers, and the person who invented toast.

:D

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Ah, the Maquis de Toast, 1792 I believe. Thank you very much sir. :rofl2:

Looks great, nice work.

Ideal for those 'short hops';)

That's the nicest travel strop I've ever seen. Roo is a great leather for stropping and this is a wonderful example of using its thinness to advantage. Well done Sir!

Legion...Nice strop, and a great idea!

I have a roo hide strop, made by MickR. It's a bit longer and wider than yours. I just returned from
an extended road trip, and I just laid it flat in the suitcase, but I didn't try rolling it up.

Roo hide is great and it works well for me.

Paul

Excellent and innovative idea Legion. I'm jealous I didn't come up with the idea myself. Good work! Can I ask where you got those unobtanium chicago screws from? I've been wanting to use them myself. My own travelling 'roo strop is just a standard 2"x20" that I roll around the dee ring handles. Less complicated but not as fancy as yours.


Mick

P.S You might need to sew the edges down to hold the rod in place or drill through them and thread the 'roo lace through to keep them in place. The leather will stretch/soften with use, and they might slide out over time.

Got given a handful of them fro a mate in Canada who "borrowed" them from his work. The smallest I can find near me is 1/4".

Yes, that's the smallest I can find too. Thanks mate. I might have to look at getting a few bits and bobs from OS and see if I can hunt a variety of smaller ones up to send in the same package.
Once again, great strop idea (No, I'm not goin to pinch it. It's a Legion original :) )


Mick

I have changed my mind about the travel tube now. I was going to have it matching with my travel brush and soap, but I just found this antique leather box. It fits perfectly, and will suit the "antique" style gentlemen's travelling box I plan on making myself in the future.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000210.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000209.jpg

Nice 'pouch' mate.

Well done, Legion. Looks fantastic. Can I ask what that Tube/container was? Was it originally for a brush?

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by Frankenstein

Well done, Legion. Looks fantastic. Can I ask what that Tube/container was? Was it originally for a brush?

Cheers,

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Yes, the chrome tube in the first pictures is from an old travel set. It had two, one for a brush and one for a soap stick.

I made a few little tweaks which I think have improved the design. The Joey strop, Mk2

Firstly, the end caps are gone and it is now all one piece. This makes it a bit more stable and it rolls a tiny bit smaller.

Secondly, the 3/16 brass bars have been removed and replaced by brass tubing of the same diameter. This is an improvement for two reasons. One, the thong threads though them, so the pull is distributed across the width of the strop, not just the center. Two, with the old design there was a chance that, as the leather stretched with age, the bars might get loose and fall out (I think you might be right about that Mick). This cant happen with the tubing because the thong holds it into place.

When you want to roll the strop, pull the knots to one side and roll. When you want to strop, center the knots, hang her up and strop away. Nice and simple!

I have not found a container I like for them yet, but I used my strop half a dozen times today (I had some honing duties to perform) and it worked like a champ.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000248.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000251.jpg

Great idea on using brass tube mate. Sounds like it might be a solution to a potential problem. I only suggested it may be a problem as I made a 'roo hide note book case and added an open ended penknife pouch to it to sharpen me pencil. I noticed it went from a very tight fit to one that is just adequate. I was surprised that it loosened up as much as it did. I expected some, but not that much. The note book case was made from leather that I had trimmed away as unsuitable for strops though. So that would have had a bit to do with the issue as well.


Mick

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.

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.

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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.

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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. :beer2:

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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. :beer2:

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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!!

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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.

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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 :D

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

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Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

So any roo can be safely rolled?

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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. :D


Mick

:p 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.

I have a couple spare ones up for grabs, if anyone wants to pick one up.

I put some more info over in the vendors corner.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...u/P1000285.jpg

I'm using one of the Roo travel strops at the moment whilst on holiday and it's doing a great job. It rolls up nicely in an old soap cylinder for packing.