View Full Version : buffing leather strop
I've been looking buying a decent strop for my straight razor but am horrified at the cost of the good quality ones. So i thought, Baggins me old chum, you make lots of leather stuff, how hard can it be to make a decent strop?
After a bit of searching, i've discoved that all the best ones are 'hand buffed' leather. Anybody any idea what this means and how to go about it?
Cheers
Baggins
Eric_Methven
27-04-2010, 22:03
It is also called Corrected Grain Leather.
Corrected grain leather – leather from which the grain layer has been partially removed by buffing to a depth governed by the condition of the raw material and upon which a new surface has been built by various finishes.
Terminology (http://www.worldtradingcorp.com/designers/terminology.htm)
Basically you take a strop length of decent veg tanned shoulder (what you'd use for belts) and abraid the grain side with medium grit emery cloth. Then go to a finer grit. Finally give it a going over with wire wool.
The aim is to remove enough of the epidermis so that it will hone the razor properly. The back (or flesh) side of the leather is OK for bushy knives, but is generally too rough for fine honing needed for a straight razor.
The reason that hand buffed leather is so expensive is the amount of work involved in its preparation. Machines can do it, but then they can't call it hand buffed.
Eric
Barn Owl
27-04-2010, 22:23
It is also called Corrected Grain Leather.
Corrected grain leather – leather from which the grain layer has been partially removed by buffing to a depth governed by the condition of the raw material and upon which a new surface has been built by various finishes.
Terminology (http://www.worldtradingcorp.com/designers/terminology.htm)
Basically you take a strop length of decent veg tanned shoulder (what you'd use for belts) and abraid the grain side with medium grit emery cloth. Then go to a finer grit. Finally give it a going over with wire wool.
The aim is to remove enough of the epidermis so that it will hone the razor properly. The back (or flesh) side of the leather is OK for bushy knives, but is generally too rough for fine honing needed for a straight razor.
The reason that hand buffed leather is so expensive is the amount of work involved in its preparation. Machines can do it, but then they can't call it hand buffed.
Eric
Would my bridle leather belt be the same Eric?
Eric_Methven
27-04-2010, 22:49
Yes. So long as the grain is of decent enough quality. Bridle leather is generally good though.
Eric
Barn Owl
28-04-2010, 00:01
Yes. So long as the grain is of decent enough quality. Bridle leather is generally good though.
Eric
Certainly is Eric.
I wouldn't use anything else for a belt now i've used it myself.
Thats great, thanks Eric. Now i just have to clear some space and have a go.
Cheers
Baggins