Thread: Strop Rehab

Well, I've finally gotten around to beginning to work on an old Shumate strop I got off E-Bay a while back.
It's got to pieces the old "sharpen", "finish" pressed into the leather @ the top holding them together.
Anyway, I removed the connector piece @ the top, and both handles - it has the leather (I think they're leather) handles on each piece.
This thing looked decent enough, but was covered in something... or many somethings. Anyway, I was sure the "sharpen" piece had been pasted many, many times, and was quite slick and waxy. The "finish" side was ok, but also had something on it, especially on the edges running the length of the strop on each side.
So, after getting it all carefully taken apart, I said "the heck with it", and just started using the saddle soap, and water, and a vegetable brush. The initial residue was as black as a black crayola. After many many soap -> scrub -> rinse cycles, the "finish" side looked like a strip of leather again. Both sides of this piece had been coated with whatever it was, but it all came pretty clean. I set it aside to begin drying, and went to work on the "sharpen" side. Based on what little "grain" pattern I could see, and what little I already know about strops, I believed it to be some type of canvas, so I decided since it was SOOOO out of shape, and coated, I'd start off with the same brush, and a touch of liquid laundry detergent. That worked pretty well, but after 2 passes on each side (soap/scrub/rinse), it started to look like it might be leather, just a thinner and coarser cut than the first piece. So, I went back to the saddle soap and continued the process (a little more carefully now since it was a bit thinner, and didn't appear to be as 'hardy' as the first piece). Well, I still can't tell if it's leather or not. Neither can my wife. At first quick glance, it looks like leather, but upon closer examination, it looks like there is a distinct thread pattern on one side of it.
It looks kind of like this one:
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/five4us/item/7188
Actually looks a lot like that one - but mines in better shape.

OK, so... any guesses on what the material of the "sharpen" piece might be?
What should my next step be?
Is this a strop - if reconditioned well enough - be one that I should use regularly, or just set aside and only use occasionally - enough to keep it "worked"?
Would it be safe to take it to a shoe repair shop to have it all sewn back together? Would it be safer to take it to a saddle shop? I don't really want to do it myself - but I will if I have to.
Any other suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks!!!

LANCE

I don't have a clue about the strop.
I am lookin forward to replies casue I'll need the info too.

No ideas huh???

Usually the sharpen side is canvas or linen and usually soaking in laundry detergent and scrubbing with a brush will get it clean. usually these were treated with something to make them stiff and shiny. remember the thing could have who knows how many years of dirt, oil on it. I would doubt it would be leather.

As long as the leather section is in good shape there is no reason why it can't be sewn back together. usually I like Bick products. saddle soap is good for saddles but thats a different type of leather and it can dry out especially old leather. I like bick because its ph adjusted and doesn't contain petrolium products.

AWESOME! Good info, thanks for the response... It's almost all clean at this point, I still need to condition it. I'll post pictures soon.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Usually the sharpen side is canvas or linen and usually soaking in laundry detergent and scrubbing with a brush will get it clean. usually these were treated with something to make them stiff and shiny. remember the thing could have who knows how many years of dirt, oil on it. I would doubt it would be leather.

As long as the leather section is in good shape there is no reason why it can't be sewn back together. usually I like Bick products. saddle soap is good for saddles but thats a different type of leather and it can dry out especially old leather. I like bick because its ph adjusted and doesn't contain petrolium products.

Bigspendur...

tell us more about bick! i have one like this are well. at some point somebody restitch it as the logo handles are now on the inside.... i have not tried anything yet on it but if the finish side is not leather on mine it sure has me fooled. both strops for me are still supple and i think i just want to clean them up some.

i would certainly like to know more about leather restoration...