Making a strop - which leather to use?

[Alaisiagae]

Hello, I'm going to make a small strop, and I was wondering what kind of leather to use. I have read on these boards that "hard jacked horse butt" is supposed to be good, but I don't have that and I'm not sure how to get it. I have some thick (8-10oz) veg tan cow belly, and was thinking of using that - or would it be too smooshy and soft? I plan to eventually order some veg tan from Springfield Leather, so I could order a small piece of thick, regular veg tan. Or, should I use thinner leather (I have some 4 oz and thinner scraps on hand)?

As for glue, I have Fiebing's basic leather craft glue that looks like elmer's white glue, regular rubber cement, and superglue. My dad likely has more potent adhesive chemicals that are not designed for leather - would those be better options? 

[fredk]

As it is, its probably too soft for a good strop.

Cut a piece at least twice the width and about 50% longer than you need. Soak it in really hot water, then lay it out to dry in a very warm place. Put something on it to keep it flat. You'll find that the leather has shrunk and stiffened up considerably. 

I would use a contact adhesive  on both the leather and board to glue them together. Again put something on the leather to keep it flat until the adhesive has set. After that trim the leather and add your rouge if you are going to use any.

[mike02130]

Yeah what he said.  Take a rolling pin to it while it's wet.  Compresses the leather making it denser

[zuludog]

The usual way of making a strop is to glue leather to a piece of wood - Search YouTube for 'making a leather strop', there are several videos. 

The rubber cement or the white glue would be OK Have the leather bigger than the wood, then trim it when the glue's dried Have the flesh side of the leather showing; place it on a bench with the wood uppermost; put a couple of pans of water on top and leave it overnight to set

FREDK's advice on soaking the leather first is good

Treat yourself to some proper stropping/honing compound, like Veritas green compound. A bar isn't that expensive, and it will last for ages

Edited July 29, 2020 by zuludog

[Grumpymann]

I would use a light coat of neatsfoot oil on it just before the compound.

[Alaisiagae]

Thank you all for the advice. However, none of the videos I watched (I watched 3) mentioned boiling the leather at all. @fredk Why does the leather piece have to be so stiff/hard?  That hard, why use leather at all and not some other material? 

Edited July 29, 2020 by Alaisiagae

[mike02130]

1, Not all YouTube videos are the gospel.  2, Hard equals less rounding of the edge.  3, Use another material such as a cereal box on a table.

Your questions have been answered.

[fredk]

2 hours ago, Alaisiagae said:

Thank you all for the advice. However, none of the videos I watched (I watched 3) mentioned boiling the leather at all. @fredk Why does the leather piece have to be so stiff/hard?  That hard, why use leather at all and not some other material? 

Leather, with or without rouge is traditional. You can use rouge on cardboard, or some wet & dry grit paper glued to a board or something. As said above. hard = less (or no) rounding of the edge. The videos probably didn't mention the 'boiling' the leather (do not boil it! ) as they started with a thick stiff bit of leather and had no need to make it stiffer

 

[Frodo]

Just get you a piece of plywood, Mine is 4''' x 6'''   or  101 mm x 152  mm       

glue a piece of  6 or 7 OZ  veg tan     to the wood

if you want he leather thicker, glue another piece to it

                                                                                                                                                                           

Edited July 29, 2020 by Frodo

[Alaisiagae]

At the risk of me sounding like a slow, stupid child: Did you harden your leather with hot water, @Frodo ? 

@fredk How long does it take for the leather to dry after being soaked in water (and soaked for how long?)? Is there a leather thickness you think is good - 6 to 7oz? Thinner? I did buy some neatsfoot oil (100% pure, but I think I overpaid for it, oops), so I've got that now.