Illinois Strop

Well, since I've started this whole str8 thing I've been looking all over town for stuff!
Today I was in an old store and they had a couple of razors and an old strop.
1 razor has a broken blade...the lady just gave it to me...not sure what I'm gonna do with it.
The other razor came in its box, I'll post questions in the razor section on this one.
The strop looks kinda old but in pretty good shape. It says Illinois Strop Co. on it and it has the #3359 on it...any ideas????
I'm waiting on Lynns DVD to get here so I can figure out how to take care of it...along with searching on this forum.
The strop had a small cut in it, looks like somebody was trying to go cut edge first.
The lady said she's had it awhile, she asked would I pay $20 for it.
I figured sure, if its no good...it'll make fine decor in MY bathroom!
So...did i do good or did I get taken?

If you can post a picture of your strop it would be very helpful and we can go from there.

Strops are fairly straight forward and simple tools once you know a thing or two about them.




Scott

Pics are not that good...I don't know where my camera is, I had to use my stupid phone!
I put my Kershaw in their for size reference.
You can see the one picture shows the cut.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ves/strop3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ves/strop2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ves/strop1.jpg

Doesn't look too bad as long as it is a surface cut only and doesn't go through to the other side. The cut is pretty much out of the path of the razor. If you run your hand over the cut and it feels a bit raised, or there is an edge to it, a flat pumice stone (moistened with water) will flatten it out.

The strop looks dry. Only you would be able to tell by feel and just how limp the leather is. The leather should have no stiffness at all. A good application with strop dressing and some rubbing with the palm or the side of an empty beer bottle will take some of the fight out of it.


Scott

The surface cut doesn't go all the way through.
I'll try some things and see if I can get rid of it...or I just won't use it that much.
Any idea on what the #3359 is?
I see other ones on here but I haven't heard of the #3359.
I'll get some strop dressing.
I think I'm going to use some Lexol to clean it first..thats what I use on my saddles.
Any idea on how to clean the linen?
Like I said, I've got Lynns DVD coming so I guess that'll answer alot of my questions too.
I guess I get to empty the beer bottle before I use it!:tu

You can clean the linen with some alcohol (I've used houshold rubbing alcohol for this), or a cloth dampened with just water, and then wipe with a clean dry cloth. If really soiled, some shaving lather applied to the working side then scraped off with the dull side of butter knife, finally wiped with a dry cloth.

#3359? Not sure, but from the photo looks like cow hide (I'm guessing). Definately one of their older models. If it were high end horse hide or cordovan shell, it would definately be advertised on the strop.

Should be a good strop as long as you can re-condition it and the gouge doesn't interfere (which I'm suspecting it won't).

And, yes drink the beer first. It makes the breaking-in much more enjoyable (oh, maybe that didn't sound right....).


Scott

Its horsehide, thats what it says in the logo at the top of the strop.

I like it so I'm keeping it...thanks!