UK affordable strops

Can' afford the 100 pound dovo strop but want something that's half decent.

Any one tried these ebay strops :
FIRST , ENGLISH. WIDE 3" LEATHER RAZOR STROP FINEST. | eBay

X LONG , ENGLISH THICK LEATHER RAZOR STROP FINEST. | eBay

Leather Strop Sharpen Straight Razor with Handle Imp | eBay

FIRST , ENGLISH THICK LEATHER RAZOR STROP FINEST. | eBay

I guess 3" wide is nice , how about the length? 15" seems short.

Also should I treat the leather so it doesn't dry out? A touch of johnson baby oli or olive oil perhaps?

Thanks for any advice

Personally I'd avoid those ebay specials. You can't go wrong with a stop from Steve at The Invisible Edge: Invisible Edge Products

His basic one starts at £21 posted. To treat it, rubbing it with your palm should suffice or you can get some Neatfoots oil and apply sparingly. (Equimins - Neatsfoot Oil Pure x 500 Ml: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors)

+1 for The Invisible Edge. I got one of their basic strops with the starter kits late last year & it's served me well so far, even if I have defaced it somewhat. They also do Dovo Leatherbalm as an alternative to Neatsfoot Oil.

I also agree. Forget eBay unless buying vintage razors.
There are better places to go to that are UK-based, plus you'd be supporting the overall straight razor community. Invisible Edge or Strop-Shop UK get my vote.

Habe you thought about trying to make your own? Im in the same position as you... i want a good strop but i cant stump up the funds to buy a top end one.Im currently reading up on how i would go about making one.

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Originally Posted by tbert33

Habe you thought about trying to make your own? Im in the same position as you... i want a good strop but i cant stump up the funds to buy a top end one.Im currently reading up on how i would go about making one.

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Indeed I did. That's what I'm in the process of researching now.
Can't find horse leather anywhere :(

I think this will do :
3.8 TOOLING NATURAL VEG TAN LEATHER BELT BLANK 52" (132cm) CHOOSE WIDTH | eBay
3" wide version is 15 quid delivered. Enough material for 2 26" stops. Could split perhaps?

When I asked them they said they use different leather for the strops they sell like this one:
FIRST , ENGLISH. WIDE 3" LEATHER RAZOR STROP FINEST. | eBay
Seems the same to me from the description 2b honest.

I'm waiting for a quote for a piece of the same leather 3" x 24" and 3" x 28"

I can let you know if you want.

Thanks mate. Im interested in that.

I got the First 3" strop. It's the only strop I've ever used so i can't compare it with anything but it's a really nice thick piece of leather. Length works for me. It's taken a little time to get flat - I've had to roll it backwards centre to edge with my hands a bit.

From what I can tell, this is a woman who cuts locally sourced, UK leather for different things. In terms of it being an 'e-bay special' I think that's really unfair to include it with factory made junk imported from China or wherever. It is a lovely piece of leather and the Chinese ones probably are not! However, if a strop is not just a piece of leather but is instead infused with some sort of extra 'stroppyness' by a true stropmaker then there are probably better strops out there.

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Originally Posted by vjanda

Can't find horse leather anywhere :(

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Tescos' might be able to advise you on that one. They must have some spare lying around somewhere.

Every little helps.

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Originally Posted by Kaden101

Tescos' might be able to advise you on that one. They must have some spare lying around somewhere

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Love it!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vjanda

Indeed I did. That's what I'm in the process of researching now.
Can't find horse leather anywhere :(

I think this will do :
3.8 TOOLING NATURAL VEG TAN LEATHER BELT BLANK 52" (132cm) CHOOSE WIDTH | eBay
3" wide version is 15 quid delivered. Enough material for 2 26" stops. Could split perhaps?

When I asked them they said they use different leather for the strops they sell like this one:
FIRST , ENGLISH. WIDE 3" LEATHER RAZOR STROP FINEST. | eBay
Seems the same to me from the description 2b honest.

I'm waiting for a quote for a piece of the same leather 3" x 24" and 3" x 28"

I can let you know if you want.

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I made my own with the leather in your first link.
Can honestly say it's the best strop I have ever used. Did like you said, just cut it in half and made a 26" long strop. It's huge !
Have the same amount of leather left to make another.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by England

I made my own with the leather in your first link.
Can honestly say it's the best strop I have ever used. Did like you said, just cut it in half and made a 26" long strop. It's huge !
Have the same amount of leather left to make another.

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Great, just what I wanted to hear.
Ordered mine just now ;)

Is it better for the leather to be soft or hard for stropping purposes?