Yes, a leather belt can be used as a strop for honing blades. It is an affordable and convenient alternative to purchasing a separate strop. However, it may not be as effective as a specialized strop due to the varying quality of leather belts.
A leather belt is a pretty good substitute for a proper strop if you don’t have access to one… You can use any type of leather for a strop….. and you might even be able to make one from an old belt.
However….. it’s important to note that this method is not as good as using a real strop… You can’t get the same kind of sharpness from a belt that a real strop provides.
If you’re looking for something to sharpen your straight razor with….. however….. an old belt may be just the thing… A leather belt will work as an adequate substitute for any kind of strop when you don’t have access to one.
Can a leather belt be used as a strop? Yes and no… It depends on what you’re going to use it for.
You see….. there are two types of stropping: draw-stropping and push-stropping.
In push-stropping: The strop pushes the blade away from the body….. while in draw-stropping….. the blade pulls the strop toward it.
While any piece of leather will work for a push strop (leather belt included)….. a pull strop requires a piece of leather that is very firm.
That’s because draw-stropping involves drawing the edge backward over a solid surface… This can cause damage to both sides of the cutting edge if the leather is too soft or flexible.
So while a belt or some other stiff strap will work fine as a push strop….. it’s not going to give you good results if you try to draw your knife across it.
In draw-stropping: The leather is “drawn” toward you across your sharp edge….. while in push-stropping the blade is pushed away from you against the edge of the leather.
The belt can only be used as a strop if you’re doing draw-stropping because you have to pull the edge through the leather in order for it to work.
As far as strop width goes….. some people like a wider belt because it’s effective when drawing wider blades through it or if you want to do a lot of strokes at once.
A wider belt will also be more effective for push-stropping because it offers more resistance than a narrower one would… However….. this also means that a wide belt can take longer to use up all of its abrasive qualities than a narrow one would (which is why they last longer).
Can You Use Any Leather for a Strop?
A belt can be used as a strop….. but there are some considerations… First….. the best leather for a strop is full-grain leather… Full-grain means that the leather has not been sanded….. buffed….. or snuffed (burnished with a high-gloss finish) in any way… The surface of the leather will have scars….. wrinkles….. and stretch marks… A strop made from full-grain leather will be very smooth.
A belt that you wear every day probably isn’t going to be full-grain… It’s been sanded and buffed to make it smooth and shiny… Even if it’s still made of good quality leather….. it probably won’t work very well as a strop.
Another consideration is the thickness of the belt… For sharpening razors….. which require a lot of draws (the amount of pull needed to get the blade across the strop)….. you’ll want a pretty thick belt — at least 1/8 inch thick.
You can use any type of leather for a strop as long as it’s thick enough to provide some resistance when drawing your razor across it.
Can You Make a Strop from a Belt?
Yes….. you can create your own strops from old belts and other pieces of scrap leather… A homemade strop is perfect for sharpening the blades on straight razors….. pocket knives….. and hunting knives.
You’ll need the following materials to create your own strop:
- 1 belt — any kind of belt will do as long as it’s made of leather; choose one that’s about two inches wide….. because that allows enough room for both sides of the blade to be honed… The belt also should be rigid enough to withstand the abrasion from sharpening without bending too much… If the belt has a buckle or metal fasteners….. remove them now… The smaller metal parts can damage the blade and aren’t necessary for making a strop.
- 1/4-inch (6mm) thick hardwood board — this piece of wood provides a sturdy base for your strop… You can use an old shelf board or scrap wood to make a strop if you don’t want to purchase anything new… This board should be at least 4 inches (10cm) longer than the belt and at least as wide as your belt is tall (without its buckle).
Then simply:
- Cut the belt — Use a sharp utility knife to cut off the belt buckle and any metal fixtures… Then cut the belt into two pieces that are 1 inch (2.5cm) wide… The length of these pieces will be determined by how long you want your strop to be… Make sure you leave at least 4 inches (10cm) of extra length on each piece….. so you can attach the top and bottom pieces together later.
- Attach the wood board — Cut a piece of the hardwood board that is as long as the combined width of both pieces of your leather belt and at least 4 inches wide… You can either screw or nail this piece to the bottom of one side of your strop….. then secure it with glue if desired… This will keep the strop from sagging in the middle and provide a sturdy surface for sharpening both sides of your blade.
- Secure buckle ends — You’ll need to secure both ends of the belt together so they don’t move around while you sharpen your knives… You can use several different methods for this step….. including sewing a seam in the middle of each end or simply gluing them together with contact cement.
You’re now ready to start using your new strop! To sharpen your knife….. simply pull it across the leather in the same motion you use for chopping vegetables or cutting meat… The strop should be smooth enough that only the blade makes contact with it.
Be sure to pull both sides of the knife across the strop at once — do not just move from side to side! Once you’ve finished….. wipe down your strop with a mild soap and water mixture before storing it.
You know what? It’s easier if you see how it is done – watch the following video that shows you how:
Can a Leather Belt Sharpen a Knife?
You can also use belts to keep your knives sharp when you’re camping or on the road… They are less precise than using a whetstone or oil stone….. but they’ll get the job done in a pinch and they won’t take up nearly as much space in your kit.
All you need to do is apply some honing compound or oil to the belt and give your knife a few smooth strokes in each direction (along the length of the blade and then across it).
Most belts are made of leather….. but some also have canvas or synthetic material in the center and on the back… The canvas helps to give you a solid surface for sharpening.
The key is to ensure that your belt is properly “broken in” before using it to sharpen your knife… If a belt is stiff….. it will be difficult to move the blade over it smoothly….. and you’ll risk gouging your knife’s edge.
To break in your belt….. rub some wax on the surface with a cloth… The wax will penetrate the outermost layer of the leather and help to soften it… Once you’ve done this several times….. rub some oil into the belt and let it soak in overnight… Your belt should now be ready to go!
Can You Sharpen a Straight Razor with a Leather Belt?
A leather belt can be used as a strop for straight razors… A Strop is a flat piece of leather….. often with a strap that allows you to hold it in place while you’re honing your razor… It is designed to remove small scratches left on the blade after sharpening to create a consistent edge… Using a strop will also help keep your razor-sharp longer.
There are many different types of strops and they all have their own purpose… For example….. you may want to use a canvas stropping device to sharpen your knife or an emery board to sharpen scissors or shears.
The one common feature is that they all use leather as the main material… For example….. a hanging strap strop contains only one layer of leather….. but the belt strop has multiple layers for extra durability and ease of use.
When using a leather belt as a razor strop….. it’s important that it’s new and has never been worn! The belt needs to be stiff so that it doesn’t bend when pressure is applied and it should be smooth without any metal buckles or other features that could damage your razor.
Instructions:
- First of all….. take your belt and hold it at one end with both hands.
- Then pull it tightly by moving your hands away from each other… This way….. the buckle will tighten and the belt will become straightened out.
- Stretching out your belt will make it possible for use as a strop later on.
- Take your knife and place it against the top side of your leather belt… Do not put too much pressure when doing this because you might end up damaging the blade.
- Holding the knife steady….. draw it across the length of the belt in one smooth motion… Be careful not to move the blade back and forth because this may cause the blade to slip and get damaged.
- Once you are finished stropping your knife….. let it sit for about 10 minutes before using it again.
In summary….. a strop is anything that can be used to straighten the blade of your razor on the go without having to resort to using another type of sharpening tool… When you use a strop….. you can also remove tiny nicks or burrs that might have formed while shaving.
Treat your leather belt as you would any other stropping device and then test its effectiveness by running the blade across it a few times before using it… The burr that forms on the blade should be removed by pressing or rubbing against it in the same direction in which you shave… If you wish to increase the longevity of your razor’s edge….. sharpen it regularly.
You may also be interested in… What Belt To Wear with Suede Shoes?
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.