Thread: Strop Making Supplies

If you want to try building your own strop, here are some sources for parts:

Small amount of leather:
Tandy Leather Factory - Natural Cowhide Leather Strips

Backings:
Poly webbing: Special Polypropylene Webbing 3 inch - from www.ahh.biz
3" Cotton: Tambour Roll Door Tape or Webbing - Kennedy Hardware LLC
Heavy 2" cotton: Heavyweight 2" natural twill tape
3" Heavy Poly: http://www.strapworks.com/Heavyweigh...ene_p/hwp3.htm

Hardware:
misc. hardware: USA Lanyards Wholesale Store - ID Name Badge Holder Lanyard Supplies - usalanyards.com
D's and misc: Metal D-Rings
Cheap D's: Tandy Leather Factory - Solid Dee 2" (5.1 cm) Nickel Plated 10/pk
Large D: Tandy Leather Factory - Rigging Dee Flat Cast 3-1/2" Stainless Steel
Cheap Chicago screws (a little long for most strops): Saddles Tack Horse Supplies - ChickSaddlery.com Chicago Screws - Pack Of 10
Chicago screws: Tandy Leather Factory - Chicago Screws

Tools:
In addition to an exacto knife and a straight edge, you may want to look into a 2mm edge beveler and a slicker.

I'm surprised nobody has replied to this thread. This is very useful information. Thanks for posting!

Great stuff,thx for posting,whats a slicker?

I'm planning on making my own strop so this is very useful information. Thank you for posting.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

whats a slicker?

A slicker is a tool for burnishing the edge of the leather - it helps to close the grain and give it a better finished look. It works really nice if you use gum tragacanth and then go over it with a slicker. If you do that be careful to only get the gum tragacanth on the edge of the leather - any on the top surface will cause a light stain, and more problematic - it will prevent any finish from getting to the leather.

A slicker can be used without gum tragacanth, the leather just won't get quite as smooth. All you have to do is wet the edge of the leather and rub it.
You could of course, just leave the edges rough finished, or lightly burnish with something smooth. The nice thing about a slicker is that it has slots to run the leather in, which helps to prevent it from warping while being burnished. Warping is less likely if you use an edge beveler as well.

What is quality of the leather in the link?
(Smooth? pliable? resistant to moisture? etc.)

E, many thx for posting. 'Have heard a few happy campers w/ your strops, so you're doing something right. The chicago screws really are needed or component replacement is a hassle.
Oregon Leather Co. has been helpful for me also. They stock a moderately wide selection of strap hardware, chicago screws (that have worked pretty well), and, of course, leather. Their horsehide has been belly leather, but I've used it at been very pleased w/ the result.

Again, thank you for posting.

A good post thank you.

Does anyone know where to get swiveling clamps? Like the ones Kanayama and the Illinois Strop Company use.

Have seen them on the bay and somewhere else on here but can't remember wrist the thread was