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Thread: SRD Roo Strop
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12-15-2011, 07:40 PM #11
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Thanked: 1587I've been using the same roo strop for what must be close to 3 years now if not a bit longer. I can say without a doubt that if you look after it (as in don't do anything silly to it) kangaroo will last you many many years. I've never had a cupping issue because it has always hung in the bathroom - I've never rolled it up. It still works as well today as the day it was made.
My point is that IMO you will not find a more durable strop leather than kangaroo leather and if you treat it well it will last you many years. I fully expect mine to last me to the grave, despite how thin it is.
Another consideration is that, according to a recent post by MickR (who knows about these things), Australian customs are cracking down on backyard kangaroo exports, including leather. So you guys in the US are very lucky to have SRD supplying roo strops.
James.<This signature intentionally left blank>
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12-16-2011, 01:18 AM #12
This is correct. Roo sometimes cups a little because the leather wants to return to the natural curve of the animals body. Remember, they are not cut from big cow or horse hides. A strop represents a fair portion of the whole hide.
But it doesn't matter one bit. The leather is pliable enough that it conforms to the shape of the razor when pressure is applied, ensuring even contact all the way across the edge. This is one of the reasons it works so well. Thick, stiff leathers cannot do that.
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12-20-2011, 04:29 AM #13
Just got the strop in today.
Gave it a quick run during my nightly shave.
The pressed felt is very different than what I'm used to but I like the feel it has compared to the webbing on my other strop.
The roo was a great material though, felt very soft and stroping on it was very pleasant.
Should get a better feel for it in a few days but I'm pretty sure this one is a winner.Shaving_story on Instagram
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The Following User Says Thank You to basil For This Useful Post:
Lynn (12-20-2011)
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12-21-2011, 09:49 AM #14
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Thanked: 983From my own personal experience as a maker of 'roo strops and using my own strops in 2, 2.5 and 3" widths, the only strop to cup slightly is the 3". I put that down more to having a narrower dee ring as a handle than the actual strop width. The 3" is my daily strop (and the oldest and ugliest one I have, being the first born and all) and this may also be part of the issue, but as has been sad 'roo hide is thin, strong and flexible.
Quality 'roo hide should also be supple without too much stretch, if any. Cupping in 'roo hide will not affect the stropping of your razor. The hides supple, flexible nature, combined with its finer grain compared to all other leathers should, in theory, impart a higher polish to your razors edge, and thus aid in giving a superior shave.
On any one hide there is a lot of wastage around the belly, flanks and arm areas as these have the most stretch and must be removed to ensure only firm leather is used in the making of a quality strop. One hide will yield roughly five or six straps depending on widths required, and the cost of a single 'roo hide averages around $150 for a square metre depending on the grade. You pay less for lesser quality, and you do get lesser quality as 'roo's are not farmed. They are a wild animal that has scars and marks, from fighting each other and things like barbed wire, that make parts of, or indeed entire lesser hides totally unusable as strop material.
And here ends the lesson... I hope you can learn to appreciate you 'roo hide strop for what it's worth. Quality 'roo hide is a fantastic strop material, and I don't doubt in the slightest that SRD 'roo strops would be anything but the highest quality.
Mick
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06-20-2012, 09:31 PM #15
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Thanked: 58Rather than starting a new thread, I thought it was to awaken those most familiar with the Roo strop. My wife just recently purchased a SRD Roo strop for me for Father's Day. I have some From strop dressing, but want to make sure I don't 'wreck' it...(I've been watching a lot of Leave it to Beaver lately on Netflix). It's been a while since I did my homework on pastes for linen and leather, much less for Roo leather and the brown fabric that came with mine. What are ya'lls suggestions as to the best creams or pastes?
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06-20-2012, 09:35 PM #16
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Thanked: 993First off, I would put the Fromm dressing in the closet.....and leave it there. As long as you use your palm to rub the strop every day or so, that will be plenty of oil in the leather.
If you're really intent on pasting the fabric side, then I would suggest something like CrOx. It's a pretty great "all around" paste. I find it works best on sheffields though.
Repeat: Fromm dressing goes in closet...
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06-20-2012, 09:42 PM #17
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Thanked: 1587Yes, I agree - you really don't need to treat the kangaroo leather with anything more than a rub of your hand before each stropping session - often I don't even do that. As for pasting the other side, anything that has a good reputation in terms of abrasive pastes (the oxides, for example, diamond spray etc - though I would avoid the Dovo pastes) would be OK.
James.
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06-20-2012, 10:22 PM #18
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06-21-2012, 12:36 AM #19
+1 to the comments above. I never recommend dressing on the roo strops I make. Palm rub every time, just enough to warm the leather. The strop will last forever.
Save the dressing for old dry strops you might find in an antique store.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Legion For This Useful Post:
MickR (06-22-2012), TheLegalRazor (06-30-2012)
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06-21-2012, 02:13 AM #20
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Thanked: 58Thanks to all. Respect the Roo. Got it. No problem. Wait, what if my hands are usually dry? Can I wipe my forehead on it? Actually, I'm kinda' serious....