thanks for the fantastic feedback guys, i'm glad to hear that i'll be able to save this strop. I'm wondering where i can get some of those oils, i was hoping that i would be able to find them or something similar in a hardware store? i'm trying to avoid having to order a new product off the internet which seems to be happening every few weeks

As for that nick (at the top), i was thinking slicing it off with a scalpel blade which i've got (and could lay flat on the strop and only slice the nick off. Then i was thinking of going over it with my 1000 grit sand paper that i had for lapping my stones, do you think this will suffice or should i go and get some 220 grit (personally that seems a bit low and i was thinking i would end up with scratch marks)

thanks again guys

ofeo