Choosing a stop

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B.Murdock

Joined
May 26, 2015
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Hi everyone, I've needing a strop and I've hear you can save some money by making one your self. I've been looking a the different dyes that leather companies use to dye the leather and was wondering if that makes a differences when making a strop? I've looked at vegetable tanned, black oil tanned and russet brown oil tanned do they all work for a strop or not? I'm just worried about the stropping compound not working the was it should.
Thanks
 
B.Murdock said:
Hi everyone, I've needing a strop and I've hear you can save some money by making one your self. I've been looking a the different dyes that leather companies use to dye the leather and was wondering if that makes a differences when making a strop? I've looked at vegetable tanned, black oil tanned and russet brown oil tanned do they all work for a strop or not? I'm just worried about the stropping compound not working the was it should.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi,
Why do you want the strop?
What is the highest grist stone that you own?
There are plenty of folks who strop with compound on newspaper/cardboard/wood/denim/felt... ... leather is not required ...
but they can be had really cheap :)
Compared to the $12.50 strop consider this ebay one $1.68 free shipping hanging barber strop, leather/canvas, 18inch OAL 12.9inch stropping surface

Also at same store james mentioned $10.17 6micron spyderco sharpmaker fine triangle stick/stone/hone/sharpener 204F1
spyderco sal says he made the sharpmaker to sharpen his razors ... they can be had on ebay for about same price (~$12 free shipping though you might want to check reviews )
 
bucketstove said:
Hi,
Why do you want the strop?
What is the highest grist stone that you own?
There are plenty of folks who strop with compound on newspaper/cardboard/wood/denim/felt... ... leather is not required ...
but they can be had really cheap :)
Compared to the $12.50 strop consider this ebay one $1.68 free shipping hanging barber strop, leather/canvas, 18inch OAL 12.9inch stropping surface

Also at same store james mentioned $10.17 6micron spyderco sharpmaker fine triangle stick/stone/hone/sharpener 204F1
spyderco sal says he made the sharpmaker to sharpen his razors ... they can be had on ebay for about same price (~$12 free shipping though you might want to check reviews )
Click to expand...


I have a KME sharpener and the highest grit stone is 1500. I want a strop just to take the tooth out of the edge and give it that like extra polish . I also want it to maintain the edge longer so I dont need to keep sharpening it.
 
Some people say buying a pre-made strop is a waste of money, and that is probably correct if you have the materials lying around and have an aptitude for making stuff like strops. I did not have the materials, and I don't have the aptitude for making stuff like that. So all of my strops are bought.

Hands down, my favorite strop by far is the Knives Plus Strop Block. It used to cost $19. I see that it goes for about $23 now, and it is worth every penny of that. I recommend the Strop Block not only because you said you are looking for a strop, but also because you said that you are worried about the stropping compound. The Strop Block is a very unique construction, and I don't think I've seen anyone else make their strops the same way as this one. The folks at Knives Plus take green compound and melt it down with olive oil and then hot work that mixture into chap leather hot-glued to particle board. Then they re-raise the nap with a razor. Once your strop starts loading up, you just wet your finger tips with olive oil and rub new compound to the surface. I've had mine for years now and have never had to reload it and never had to clean or scrape it. I've got many other strops from CKTG, Bark River, etc. in horsehide, kangaroohide, cowhide, etc. Magnet-backed, wood-backed, glass-backed... you name it, I've got it. I've got one that is 12" long, and I've got a few that are pocket-sized. Some I've used bare (mainly the kangaroohide glass-backed from CKTG), some I've loaded with black compound, green compound, diamond paste, diamond spray... even Heavy Handed's handmade stuff!

The Knives Plus Strop Block is my favorite. It is a very thoughtfully made, high-quality piece of kit. The only time I wouldn't use it is if I was using my plain 'roohide strop as a finishing step. Otherwise, it's the only strop I think I'll ever need, and I assume it will last many more years without having to reload or clean it in any way.
 
Last edited:
B.Murdock said:
I have a KME sharpener and the highest grit stone is 1500. I want a strop just to take the tooth out of the edge and give it that like extra polish . I also want it to maintain the edge longer so I dont need to keep sharpening it.
Click to expand...

Interesting :) what kind of compound do you have?

kmesharp lists strops/compound $18.95 each

Consider electron microscope before/after pictures at scienceofsharp stropping on denim
Also consider ...making your own strop for under $10 with a bunch of different materials ... it all works 1036649-A-balanced-strop

It can be as simple as some denim/old jeans/newspaper wrapped around a stick or plastic ruler, just as long as the edges of stick are rounded/chamfered

I've successfully removed the tooth, and rounded over the edge, on a napkin in my hand with ceramabryte cooktop cleaner (white abrasive)
 
I bought a bag of scrap leather at a hobby store for a couple of bucks. I ordered a lifetime supply of green compound from the internet for about $10. Add a stapler and a scrap section of 2x4 and you are in business. Strops are disposable, they eventually wear out. I replace mine for literally pennies when its worn out instead of using it past its prime because I paid $40 bucks for it.

Best thing about making a strop yourself is you can make it BIG! Surface area increases the effectiveness and reduces the time and number of strokes needed to work effectively. I bought a tiny little strop from the internet and it worked well...for a year and then it needed to be replaced. I got to looking at it and realized it was nothing but a strip of leather and a piece of balsa.

Make your own, and make it big. Mine are 6" wide by about a foot long. A pass or two on each side is all that is needed. I can even strop my BK9 on it.

If you are going to buy one Stropman is great stuff, but my toddler could make one, literally.
 
collim1 said:
Strops are disposable, they eventually wear out.
Click to expand...

How do you wear out a strop?
I'm almost 70 years old... My Grandfather shaved with a straight razor and stropped it on a Russian Leather Horsehide barber strop that he was given as a young man. When he got too old to handle a Cut-throat razor, he gave the strop to my father who used it for years before he passed it on to me about 40 years ago. I used it daily back when I shaved. Now I only used it once a week to touch up my EDC. Damn thing still looks new.

I've a 10-15 or more different strops, mostly bought from Hand American 15-20 years ago, plus a handful that I've made over the years. Most of those (other than the Shell Cordovan Horsehide strops) were coated with various compounds.

I've given away lots of strops over the years, but I can't remember EVER wearing one out! How'd ya do it?


Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
How do you wear out a strop?
I'm almost 70 years old... My Grandfather shaved with a straight razor and stropped it on a Russian Leather Horsehide barber strop that he was given as a young man. When he got too old to handle a Cut-throat razor, he gave the strop to my father who used it for years before he passed it on to me about 40 years ago. I used it daily back when I shaved. Now I only used it once a week to touch up my EDC. Damn thing still looks new.

I've a 10-15 or more different strops, mostly bought from Hand American 15-20 years ago, plus a handful that I've made over the years. Most of those (other than the Shell Cordovan Horsehide strops) were coated with various compounds.

I've given away lots of strops over the years, but I can't remember EVER wearing one out! How'd ya do it?


Stitchawl
Click to expand...

They eventually load up with metal and become less effective. The leather gets dry.
 
I wear out strops too, but I also sharpen thousands of knives per year. Usually, the tips scrape the surface or produce a divot and eventually this degrades the strop to a not so usable condition.

I don't think throwing out a strop because it's loaded and dry is a valid reason. It's very easy to clean and condition leather.
 
collim1 said:
They eventually load up with metal and become less effective. The leather gets dry.
Click to expand...

Clean the strop with lighter fluid, Coleman gas, or naptha. A little bit on a rag will remove everything.
Then refresh the leather with a bit of leather conditioner, shoe cream, or even hand lotion...
As long as you don't cut the leather it should last you a lifetime.

On the other hand, it only costs a few dollars and a half hour's time to make a new, excellent strop. Your choice.


Stitchawl
 
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