Thread: odd strop idea from a friend

ok, i was talking to a friend a few days ago, and the subject went to straight razors, we ended up talking about stropping (he has no idea even where to begin) and he threw out an idea after i explained a little bit and i want to know what everyone else thinks, i thought that it wouldn't work, but the more i think about it, the more curious i am if it would
anyways, here it is

Take a long strip of leather, he said wide enough for the entire blade of the razor
figure out a way to make a seamless loop in it (the part that i think wouldn't be possible)
and then put it on a small belt sanders and turn it one for stropping a razor, holding it on different sides of the belt to get both sides of the blade

would this work
if so, how would you get the seamless joining of the ends of the leather?

They have lapping wheels with leather. They are used mostly as a final polish for watch cases among other things. As far as stropping a razor the speed would be a problem. Actually it looks like a solution looking for a problem.

I would guess heat would prove to much of a problem for this to work.
It's sort of like hunting sparrows with a cannon

I would be hesitant of a belt sander, as was mentioned before, because of the heat generated. If you could set it up with something to turn it more slowly, that may work. But really, does it take terribly long to strop? I don't think I spend more than 3-4 minutes stropping each time.

That 'seamless loop' could be had by cutting each end at a 45 degree angle or more and also cutting a long shallow bevel (Skive) so as to be able to glue down the leather on as much surface area as possible and also maintain as perfectly flat as possible a join. I would see it as a realistic thing to do, but, as is the case when using machines for anything it is quite easy to quickly make a mess of it. The speed of the belt drive system would mean less time spent on the strop, perhaps just a few seconds each side to complete the action.
The problem I see is, who's wife is going to let them have a motorised polishing wheel/belt sander contraption in the bathroom...


Mick

Go to your local slaughterhouse and have them cut a band of skin from around the belly of a cow and up over the back before the main belly cut is made. Then take it to a tanner and have it tanned to your specification. For a smaller band use the area around the lower neck instead. I'm just making this up, please ignore me.

Originally Posted by MickR

That 'seamless loop' could be had by cutting each end at a 45 degree angle or more and also cutting a long shallow bevel (Skive) so as to be able to glue down the leather on as much surface area as possible and also maintain as perfectly flat as possible a join. I would see it as a realistic thing to do, but, as is the case when using machines for anything it is quite easy to quickly make a mess of it. The speed of the belt drive system would mean less time spent on the strop, perhaps just a few seconds each side to complete the action.
The problem I see is, who's wife is going to let them have a motorised polishing wheel/belt sander contraption in the bathroom...


Mick

i am single

i see everyone saying the speed would mess it up, that was my second problem in it.
now that i think about it, a grill rotisserie with a wheel for the belt seems like it would make the speed better
what do yall think
I believe that it would be helpful, if you can get it by you wife/girlfriend, or you are single
and you have the time to do it


even if it wouldn't be helpful, i believe that it would still be a fun project if anyone had time to build it

Originally Posted by crazyengineer

Originally Posted by MickR

That 'seamless loop' could be had by cutting each end at a 45 degree angle or more and also cutting a long shallow bevel (Skive) so as to be able to glue down the leather on as much surface area as possible and also maintain as perfectly flat as possible a join. I would see it as a realistic thing to do, but, as is the case when using machines for anything it is quite easy to quickly make a mess of it. The speed of the belt drive system would mean less time spent on the strop, perhaps just a few seconds each side to complete the action.
The problem I see is, who's wife is going to let them have a motorised polishing wheel/belt sander contraption in the bathroom...


Mick

i am single

Sorry mate. I'm happily married in a heterosexual relationship...But hey, I'm flattered all the same...


Mick

yeah, I was trying to think of something that would rotate slowly and the rotisserie would be a good option. Maybe some sort of treadle setup, like an old foot-powered sewing machine, to keep thinks old timey like? I feel MickR had the right idea in overlapping the leather at angles. You could probably sand the joint even smoother after gluing.