Razor strop boards

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Evo stick worked ok ont he ones I have made - make sure you get all the corners or they will curl
 
Hi guys. I was wondering if you could give me some info, i,ve just collected some Birch Polypore with the intent to make a strop board and was wondering what,if any,the treatment required for the fungi,i,e do you dry it out first then apply to a board,or is it ok just to use it straight away,fresh if you like.

Any thoughts please.
 
i,ve just collected some Birch Polypore with the intent to make a strop board and was wondering what,if any,the treatment required for the fungi,i,e do you dry it out first then apply to a board,or is it ok just to use it straight away,fresh if you like.
There can be a little shrinkage and some warping while they are drying so I prefer to cut them roughly to shape, dry them out fully and then use wet and dry paper to finish them off to get a smooth flat surface for the strop.

:-)
Ed
 
Alternatively cut the over sized - dry them between two heavy old books and then trim off the waste after glueing - gives a nice fit :biggthump
 
Sorry guys,just another question,do you cut the fungi into strips or do you use the whole thing by flattening it between two books as Gary suggested. ooh i,m confused.

I ask because on one of Ray Mears Country Tracks he showed a strop board and the fungi looked fairly thin stuck to the board.

Help please.
 
There is no right or wrong way, just alternatives ;-)

I've never tried garys way of drying between books, i guess it gives you a nice flat surface and the fungi becomes compact. I just dry them out as in my post above. It drys very hard and is durable for the job.... I'll give garys method a go with my next crop.

:-)
Ed
 
It works ok for me - but a tip here - I usually trim it down anyway. IE if I want a strop 4x5x1" I will cut off all surplus fungi, skin ect and leave myself a flat(ish) white plate of meat (the heart of the fungi) roughly 6x7x2" to allow for shrinkage ect - this is then pressed until dry.

Once ready the board is glued in the BEST POSITION on the fungi and the spare fungi trimmed off.
 

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