I have never seen a whole cow hide for sale. Usually a side or a double shoulder yoke is the biggest piece you can get. Try McMaster-Carr for 3" strips of veg tanned cow or steer hide. Or Tandy. Or Springfield Leather. You can use it as is, or you can soak it and rub (lots of pressure) with a bottle as it dries, then give it a little neats foot oil when it is nearly dry, and keep rubbing it occasionally until completely dry. Let it hang a few weeks to distribute the oil good. Don't apply too much. Then attach your end hardware and if desired you can bevel the edges with a skiving knife but it isn't really necessary. Don't use two chicago screws. Use 3, at each end.
Thanks Luecke2326, and that’s a great avatar!
Thanks Lightcs1776 that’s good to know. I’d much prefer a recommended source over anything else. I actually want to attempt building it myself though. If that fails, I’ll know where to look.
Slash is not one who keeps things to himself. He has been very generous in sharing his knowledge I encourage you to connect with him and learn from his experience. He is a class act.
Yes, that’s what I meant but overly simplified when I said whole cow. Is there a type of leather that responds better to soaking, rubbing, drying, and oiling? Personally, with the limited time I have, I’d rather buy a piece of leather I can use as is after applying neat’s foot, using a skiving knife, and adding Chicago screws. Would it be possible to come out with a passable strop That way or should I go all the way or go home...or buy an already completed strop?
You can use a decent piece of veg tanned cowhide as is, with no treatment. It will still be a usable strop. I have made a lot like that, sold them or gave them away. And the cow/steer hide does respond well to treatment if you want to go that way.
Great to hear, thanks!
Update: Ok! I've sourced some pretty good quality leather from Amazon, believe it or not. A veg tanned strip of 9-10oz full grain leather measuring 3"x55". Only about 1/2 of the leather strap I bought can be used for strop making due to imperfections in the leather. This is fine since since it will be my first time leather working and all of the leather that won't go directly into the strop will be for trial and error, practice, etc. There is still plenty left for my purposes.
Is that not Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride? I believe it is...Prepare to die!!
I've actually been meaning to check that podcast out, thanks for the reminder.
