Thread: My Bridge Strop

Made the bridge strop today, thought about adding a handle but not necessary to use it. I used some cow hide I got from episaccs which I'm very thankful for. Have not tried it yet but I just tested how it felt and I really like the way it feels.

That looks pretty cool! Do you have a way to control or adjust the leather's tension in case you end up with any stretch or whatever? Some cunning use of nuts and bolts on one of the ends I guess might do it?

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

That looks pretty cool! Do you have a way to control or adjust the leather's tension in case you end up with any stretch or whatever? Some cunning use of nuts and bolts on one of the ends I guess might do it?

James.

No, that's the difference between a bridge strop and a Loom strop. A bridge strop is fixed at a certain tension and the loom strop has adjustable tension. It should work for quite a while before coming loose. I really like it, gives more feedback than my paddle or my hanging strop.

Clever, is this an idea you came up with or have bridge strops always been around, as I've never heard of them before?

I like it. I'll have to see if I can manage a replica

Originally Posted by Str8nSharp

Clever, is this an idea you came up with or have bridge strops always been around, as I've never heard of them before?

No It is hard to find information on loom strops and bridge strops but I did base mine on another someone else was had. This is the one I based mine on below.

Originally Posted by Str8nSharp

Clever, is this an idea you came up with or have bridge strops always been around, as I've never heard of them before?

They have been around for quite a while - most that I have seen came from europe, and a lot of those were German. Heres a pic of one:



The old ones seem to be on the small side - 6" - 8" and from the hardness of the leather I have an idea that they wetted it before attaching it to give it some stretch that would tighten up as it dried - wetted leather gets a bit harder, especially if hot water has been used.

Nothing like xMackx's one though - that has some really useful stropping length on it. Sharptonn has got something similar - an enormous beast with variable tension, made by a US maker called Lipshaw, I think.

In the UK you used to find them for sharpening microtome razors. One scientific supplies company in the UK - Brunel Microscopes, I think - still have one in their current catalogue which is the same as the small european ones.

Regards,
Neil

xMackx

Nice job, I wasn't comfortable holding mine and don't have a bench so I made a mount from bits of scrap wood (handle is from a curtain rail!). Ugly but works!

Originally Posted by Jimbo

That looks pretty cool! Do you have a way to control or adjust the leather's tension in case you end up with any stretch or whatever? Some cunning use of nuts and bolts on one of the ends I guess might do it?

James.

I agree with Jimbo two slots at the ends with two bolts and washer and nuts would make it adjustable simple fix. Enjoy!!

Great job. I've had one of these on my to build pile for a while now but laziness always seems to get the better of me these days.