Thread: Magnetic Table-top Strop with rubber feet, and 2 Hanging strops

I had a few days to myself and decided to make myself some more gear.

First off, I made a table-top stropping hone with a metal top surface for various magnetic pads, and mounted some rubber feet to the bottom for a non-slip grip to any surface.

I used Gorilla glue (excellent stuff) to mount a thin piece of sheet metal to a piece of 3"x12" wood, and clamped it for a couple hours, and then mounted the 3M rubber feet to the bottom of it.

Then I made some various magnet pads to experiment with. I used an A5 magnetic sheet that I bought from a stationary shop, and cut some 3"x12" strips from it. I used my trusty Gorilla glue again to mount & clamp the first one with balsa wood (coated with 0.5 micron diamond spray). The second and third pads I made with some top grade leather that I bought for strops. I empregnated one of them with 0.5 micron Chromium oxide, and the other one I just left as-is for a perfect finish.

The raw materials cut to size & ready for the Gorilla glue!



Pad materials cut, treated & ready to be glued to the magnetic strips.



All done. Chromium oxide leather on the left, balsa pad mounted on top, and plain leather on the right.



The whole set neatly packs together.




Next up, I decided to make myself some more strops (a man can never have too many strops, right?)

Got hold of some absolutely phenomenal top grain leather from a leather supplier, and bought some extra bits and pieces(clips, hooks, 2-sided leather screws etc.) from leather craft shops. It took a fair bit of time, but they came out really nice, and they work really well.

Leather & plain cotton weave strop at the top, and at the bottom is a twin cotton strop with diamond spray on one, and Chromium Oxide on the other one.




After all of this, it was time for some serious honing. I honed these babies up to 12K Naniwas, and finished them off on my newly made table-top stropping hone with the diamond balsa wood, ChrOx leather pad, and then finally the plain top-grade leather pad.


A beautiful Barber's use only 8/8 Wade & Butcher with original horn scales. (Jaw-dropping shave!)



My 9/8 Wade & butcher wedge that I have not restored because of the faded masonic markings on the blade and the horn scales in great condition. (Also a beauty to shave with)



A masonic Wade & butcher 6/8 full wedge that I spent a heck of a lot of time restoring. I removed all the pitting, hand-sanded for about 15 hours to a mirror and then went back to a satin finish. I re-pinned the rear pin with stainless steel washer and pin, and re-seated the worn-out pin pivot hole inside. She's a real eye catcher and a great shaver now!