Another Leather for convex strop question

[Long.Rider]

I did read the other thread. Thanks for the info there this is another question.

When making you own leather strop. What kind of leather do you use or rather what is the preferred leather. I have full unsplit cow hide, nearly a .25 inch thick that is about as stiff as a board. I have other split hides everything from thin leather leather like that used to make leather dress to leather that is used to make leather motorcycle chaps. Also have some deer and elk hide scraps, along with other odds and ends including old belts and leather coats. What would be the best and do I use the smooth or suede side? If it is the suede side should i use suede with long nap or short nap? Do I do anything to prep the leather. Thanks once again for your all's assistance and willingness to share your knowledge

 

[stitchawl]

Yes I did read the other thread. Thanks for the info there this is another question.

When making you own leather strop. What kind of leather do you use or rather what is the preferred leather. I have full unsplit cow hide, nearly a .25 inch thick that is about as stiff as a board. I have other split hide like that used to make leather motorcycle chaps. I also have some deer and elf hide scraps as well as some other odds and ends including old belts and leather coats (mostly that thin coat leather. What would be the best and do I use the smooth or suede side? If it is the suede side should i use suede with long nap or short nap? Do I do anything to prep the leather. Thanks once again for your all's assistance and willingness to share your knowledge

The facts are that people use all sorts of things to strop on. Some work better than others. An old belt, both inside and out. Their jeans while wearing them. Garment leather is usually Chrome tanned which, although it will work as well as your jeans, isn't as effective as vegetable tanned leather. Suede is usually Chrome tanned. Ever see a barber use the palm of his hand? They do that too. But if want the most effective strop, and you're going to be using this only on convex edges, use thick leather, flesh side (the rough side) as soft as a neoprene mouse pad. Use the longer napped leather prepped with white rouge first, then go to shorter napped leather prepped with green chromium oxide rouge. Then, if you want a really sharp edge, strop on slightly harder vegetable tanned leather using the hair side to finish the edge.

When using stropping or polishing compounds, the type of leather isn't quite as important as when using bare leather. The compounds are doing the work rather than the silicates in the leather. Oil tanning and Chrome tanning remove a lot of these natural silicates. Vegetable tanning doesn't. Oil tanning and Chrome tanning soften the leather significantly. Vegetable tanning doesn't. For convex edges, a softer, thicker rough surface works well. For flat or beveled edges, harder smooth surface works better. Using cutting compounds, almost any surface that follows these guidelines is fine. Leather, MDF, cardboard, a 2x4, canvas, etc. Without compounds, vegetable tanned leather is best.

Leather lasts longer than jeans. Jeans don't look so good when you have your left thigh covered in white rouge and your right thigh covered in green.

Stitchawl

 

[Mongo]

There are quite a few sources out there to buy leather hones, but I like to make them. It's quite easy and economical... I find a nice employee at Home Depot and ask them if I can have a handful of the wood shivs that they use to separate the layers of 2x4's with. Most of them will just give you a bunch, or better yet, let you hand pick them. I scour the local garage sales for used leather belts in good condition and cut them into 6-7" strips. If necessary, a little sanding to roughen them up, and use good ol' Elmers wood glue to affix them to the wood slats. Let 'em dry for 24 hrs, and apply your favorite compound to the leather. Voila! I've made about a dozen or so, and hand them out as gifts to my knife loving buddies. I keep one by the pooter, in my truck, in my BOB, in my office at work.... etc.