Boning Leather - Hanging Strop

[beardedrigger]

I've been trying to research how to best make a hanging strop for use with a straight razor and came across some info mentioning that good strops are boned as opposed to just cut strips of leather. I couldn't find any info as to what that means when applied to a strop though as most of my searches brought up boning of gun holsters. So, is it just smoothing out the leather in this application? Is there a specific technique? Any help would be appreciated. Also, feel free to add any tips or tricks you use when making hanging strops.

[Acydtrip]

Let me start by saying I do not know for sure...  That said, it sounds like something I ran into decades ago when I made some strops for myself and my father (some hanging, some backed). If you cut a strip, apply some rouge, put it to use, you have a fairly uneven surface. Dad's method was to then take that, apply some spit, a blade, and elbow grease (usually wood carving knives) and after a handful of uses, it was nice and smooth and fairly even. If you're doing one for razors with a nice thin edge, they won't have the heft of a thick blade like for chip carving, and the roughness may cause an issue. Thus, boning/burnishing initially would smooth things out a bit and present a smooth and even finish from the start.  Like I said, don't take it as gospel, just my thoughts and experience.

Trip

[bikermutt07]

This is a total guess..... I have seen some people case their leather and then take a glass slicker to before tooling. They mentioned that evened out the grain side. Maybe that's what they mean by boning?

[beardedrigger]

Thanks for the responses. Still hoping someone who knows can chime in. 

[Windrider30]

On ‎7‎/‎08‎/‎2016 at 1:13 AM, bikermutt07 said:

This is a total guess..... I have seen some people case their leather and then take a glass slicker to before tooling. They mentioned that evened out the grain side. Maybe that's what they mean by boning?

I have used a glass slicker on a few things and it makes the leather rather stiff (tried it with a bracelet wrong idea lol) and really does smooth things out. As for boning the only kind of boning I know is for corsets, and those are either steal or plastic bones that are used to give the corset the vertical hold that cloth needs

[bikermutt07]

2 hours ago, Windrider30 said:

I have used a glass slicker on a few things and it makes the leather rather stiff (tried it with a bracelet wrong idea lol) and really does smooth things out. As for boning the only kind of boning I know is for corsets, and those are either steal or plastic bones that are used to give the corset the vertical hold that cloth needs

Well, the guy wasn't slicking/burnishing it though. He just gently pushed it around the grain side and then started carving. 

[Windrider30]

38 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

Well, the guy wasn't slicking/burnishing it though. He just gently pushed it around the grain side and then started carving. 

I have found with what little carving that I have done if I burnish it with the glass slicker it seems to make it easier to carve as well as seems to go a little deeper but that could just be me

[MADMAX22]

You can use a glass slicker or even the plexiglass ones. Case your leather then run the slicker over it in one direction. It will tighten and smooth things out. 

A better option is just use some vegtan horse butt. It is very dense and smooth and makes an excellent strop. 

[bikermutt07]

1 hour ago, MADMAX22 said:

You can use a glass slicker or even the plexiglass ones. Case your leather then run the slicker over it in one direction. It will tighten and smooth things out. 

A better option is just use some vegtan horse butt. It is very dense and smooth and makes an excellent strop. 

But the question remains..... Is this boning?

[Windrider30]

14 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

But the question remains..... Is this boning?

Ok from what I can find out yes this would actually be considered boning. Seems "boning" has two purposes and traditionaly an actual bone was used it would seem to help polish out a dye to help give it a smoother look. I have seen one thing on youtube where they are using a "bone" (metal rod) to put details into a wet formed holster so basicly boning a strop would be the same thing as using a glass slicker..with out the bone.

[MADMAX22]

Yeah boning usually refers to molding the leather with what was traditionally a bone tool. Atleast as far as I know. Like other terms it has probably been used for various different expressions. 

[bikermutt07]

Thanks guys.

[beardedrigger]

Thanks for the responses, y'all. I think I've got my answer and think it's like Madmax22 says: using a slicker on the leather to smooth it out when casing it. 

This video shows an example about a minute in: 

 

[bikermutt07]

That's the guy!

[johnv474]

If the purpose is to simply make the leather smoother and denser, you may want to look into getting leather soling strips. I believe these are generally run under a press because they are much firmer/denser than regular bag/belt veg tan. They can be bought in 4" and 13" wide strips for $15-30.

[dirkba]

This post took my thoughts way back to the days of compulsory military training - being in the Army!!

We use to "bone" our boots for inspection. This was insane....but it kept us busy for hours in the night. We had to get those boots shining....so thinking back and applying my mind - it struck me!

The process of covering leather with layers of spit and polish to get the surface as smooth as silk and SHINING will definitely have a benefit if you were to apply the same technique to a strip of leather. Then using the polished leather strip - referred to as a strop would help you to polish steel to a high cutting edge, because of the smooth surface. The only difference would be applying some buffing paste to smooth the surface, but also to act as a fine abrasive for the steel.

 

 

 

[billybopp]

If you're stropping a straight razor, you may want more than one strop.  That edge has to be very very sharp AND polished for a good comfortable shave.  A strop with a bit of mild polishing compound on it can be a help when the edge is lacking a bit but not really in need of a full-blown sharpening yet.  It will remove some metal.  But after that, and for everyday use, a plain smooth piece of leather will polish without removing any appreciable amount of metal.  The smoother that leather is, the smoother it can make the polish on the blade.   Boning, or slicking would help to make that leather as smooth as possible.  You might also take a look at jacked leather for a strop.   It's more or less slicked when you get it.

Bill

 

[silverwingit]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I made a two-sided wood strop with horse butt and put the grain side out. Now no matter what I do it won't take or keep polishing compound. I wish I'd have made it flesh side out. I've sanded it with coarse sandpaper and that helps but my little belly leather strop with the flesh side out works much better. In fact, I am just about ready to make a new flesh side out horsehide strop out of frustration.

Michelle