Making a strop

[carver6]

If you are going to glue a piece of leather to a board for use as a strop, what kind of glue do you suggest? I've tried making several but can't get the leather to adhere to the board for any length of time.

I've used 100% rubber silicone to glue leather to a piece od oak for a strop. I wet the leather and wrung it out, put the silicone on the board, set the leather on it andput a piece of scrap wood across the top and clamped it. Then used another piece of scrap wood and drug it along the leather stretching the leather as I pulled it to the other end and put another clamp on that piece. And then fit another board between thos two and added several more clamps.

I used the side of one of my old army boots to make a large strop for my wider chisels. It's about 4 inches wide and roughly 6 inches long. I've been using it for several months and it hasn't come loose yet.

I used to use epoxy all the time, but just recently tried contact cement and it's holding up fine. So, think I'll switch over.

[mdallensr]

I've made about 20 strops using contact cement and they're all still holidng together.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have made several strops and just used elmers carpenters glue!

[mikeg]

20 strops?!?!?! Have you been giving them away or have you gone through that many?

mikeg

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have made two strops. I used an old piece of lumber cut off from another project and a piece of thick leather strap (from my leather carving days) to make them both. Used Elmers carpenter glue on each. Just be sure to keep the flesh side of the leather up and use the smooth side to glue to the board. They are about 2 inches wide, 12 inches long (leather) with about a 3 inch handle. I recommend that you use a thick piece of leather with sharp edges. Cut the leather if it is rounded. On the last one, I made the leather just slightly wider than the wood. This is excellent for stropping the inside of a V tool. The first one was a prototype for a fancy one to be made later. It was left at a carving class, so I hurriedly made the second. The first was later returned by the instructer. Don't guess I will ever get around to the fancy one. The first one was made about 15 years ago and the second one about 5 years ago. Both, have been heavily used and are still doing an excellent job on my tools.

Paul Guraedy
Whooping Hollow Woods
Alpena, ARkansas

[squbrigg]

Mine is glued to a flat piece of Maple, about 12' long by 3' wide and 3/8' thick, about 4' of that is shaped handle. The leather, from a bootmakers, is glued down just cusing yellow carprnters glue. Two layers, one on the leather one on the wood, and sandwich the whole thing between some scrap plywood to clamp and set. Leave 24 hrs and away you go!

I've used it now for a good 15 years, use Green Compound on it, from Lee Valley.

Bob

[Kenny_S]

A piece of wood, thin leather and some glue, Elmers white or carpenters, Gorilla,contactcement, all works. Leather, both smooth or rough works. I like thin leather as thick can cause roundness of the blade if a person isn't carefull. Smooth side works with jewelers(red) rouge as well as rough side. I have used dowell stick and glued thin leather to them for inside of gouges. Even heard plain wood with yellow(Gold) rouge stick. Jewelers rouge or green, white of even black rouge.
Guess it depends on who is making the strop and what he/she has on hand to make it with. I use pine and have one out of walnut.
None was ever clamped and they are holding up after years of use. Made strops in Boy Scouts using pine and fine emery Cloth. Know and elder gentleman who uses the plam of his hand and believe me his knives are sharp.

[stevefrfla]

I have used the palm of my hand several times as a stop, twelve stitches total, Oh sorry you said strop