Thread: 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.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by vjanda

Can't find horse leather anywhere

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

Every little helps.

Originally Posted by Kaden101

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

Love it!!!