Quick newb strop question...

I have one of Whipped Dog's poor man's strop kits. I like it and all, but I've looked into other better strops. Im seeing alot of two part strops with leather and then linen/felt/etc. I know there are benefits to having the non leather strop, but Im wondering if its absolutely necessary.

I was thinking about making my own strop simply because I used to own a leather working business and have the ability to put one together pretty easily and quickly without having to worry about companies being out of stock or having to ship a bought strop. However, I'm not seeing where I can buy the compressed felt or linen for a second strop, so I was wondering if you could use the fleshy portion (non smooth back side) of the leather as oppose to a linen strop? Or is there some other materials that can be used in place of the linen/cotton/felt as a beginning strop material?

Denim will work, so will corduroy.

The SRD strops have as an option a polyweb component, sort of like the material in seatbelts. They sell replacement components fairly inexpensively as well.

Tex, You can use nylon or canvas webbing to strop with. The material that is used for seatbelts and similar material can be found at businesses that make tents, boat covers, trampolines, and such. I bought several different types to try.
The price locally was only $1 per yard for the 2 inch wide strapping. It is light enough that a household type sewing machine can be used to sew D rings on the ends. I suppose you could even use epoxy to fasten the D rings or even hand sew them. They will probably have the D rings too.
My stropping technique improved substantially with the use of one made from a quite soft nylon material.
It is quite limber so it needs only a gentle pull to keep it taught and then I could practice using a very light pressure with the razor while keeping its spine fully in contact with the strop at all times.
Avoid used fabric as you will probably never get all the dirt and dust particles out of it.
Good luck.

Ok, so lets say I use some denim as I've got several old pairs of jeans that I could cut up to make a strop out of, would it be any better to starch and iron them first? The seat belt material sounds better, but I dont have any old seat belts laying around.

Don't know about the starch and ironing, but are there any car junk yards around where you live?

Well there is one the next town over but the old man that runs it is a bit pricey. What about nylon web tow straps? Would those work?

Also, with any of these materials, do they get run plain and dry or coated with any kind of rouge or cutting agent?

I use only leather and seem to get along just fine.

Well I already have to get a new strop as it was already nicked along the edges when I bought it. Granted I have nicked it once so far. But I can but a piece of 2.5" or 3" latigo leather big enough to make two strops for half the price of a new ready made strop. Maybe I can make two and sell one? Lol

How would this strop be?

2 1/2" Wide x 28" Long "Big Mama" LeatherStraight Razor Strop

I've not really seen alot of people talking about it on here, so I figured I would ask and see what people think.

I used that strop for awhile its a good strop. I stopped using it cause I found I like narrower strops.

With the big mama you will need to learn the x stroke. I recommend learning it I think it really helps.

But if you don't want to learn the x stroke they also sell a big daddy strop that is 3 inches.

Make your own,strops are way overated,is no magic involved.JMO

Well making a strop myself is what I had thought of doing to begin with, but just making them for myself isn't very cost effective. The price for me to go and buy a 2.5x50 inch strip of latigo leather is already more expensive than that "Big Momma" strop. Then I have the added cost of hardware, which for D-rings is about $20 for 4. Then the cost of a second strop material. Yes I could technically make multiple strops but it's just not as cost effective at this point. Being a single father means I have to stretch my money as best as I can, which in this economy tends to be a very hard thing to do.

Depending on how you are set up for honing/ sharpening your razors and how set you are on a linen/felt/canvas/web strop. Buying the leather and making a couple strops might be the way to go. I use a leather only jemico strop now and sharpen all my razors with a 1k stone and a four sided pasted strop with 9 micron diamond paste, dovo green, red and black.

If your looking for cost effective that is probably the most cost effective way to sharpen your razors.

I'm not necessarily set on a cloth strop. I've seen mixed reviews as to whether or not you actually need them. I'm just thinking back to what I always saw hanging at the barber shop I used to go to.

I'm not really set up yet for honing as I have no stones and haven't done any razors. Although, I do have the pasted balsa strop but that's about it.

On a cost effective good quality introductory set up, what would y'all recommend?

I am a paste guy so that's what I use and like.

But the most common recommendation is the norton 4k/8k hone