Thread: Help, save a strop!!

I need to know if I've ruined a strop. Lynn's DVD came yesterday, along with a 3.5"w strop. After watching the DVD and buying some strop oil, I went to work. I CrOx'd the smooth, lighter side of the strop and oiled the darker, heavier-grained side. Afterwards I thought the side I thought was for daily stropping looked rough and so I checked with the vendor and, yes, it's a one-sided strop. I rushed to get the CrOx off. The only thing I had immediately to hand was liquid hand soap, so I used that. That seemed to penetrate the leather after I got the chromium off, so I used saddle soap hoping to pull it out. Didn't work, as near as I can tell. Also used lots and lots of water. Did a final scrub with Fast Orange (yes, I'll take my lumps) because of its degreasing abilities. Right now it's hanging on my wall drying while I figure out if I've just wasted 70 bucks or not. The leather isn't physically damaged, except if it's too saturated to be of use. Any ideas or help on a resurrection?

Ouch.

Let's hope Tony Miller catches this and knows how to fix it.
Other people have posted on SRP about how they molested their strop, but I think you're the champ.

It's a recognizable situation. A disastrous spiral of things going from bad to worse, no matter what you try, and the worst of all is that you fully realize what is happening while the disatrous events unfold themselves. There just doesn't seem a way back...
Just to say: been there, done that (although not to a strop).

All the best,
Bart.

Bummer. While I've never soaked a strop before I have dunked a few boots, saddles, chaps, and belts in my time.

My recommendation would be to make your final cleaning attempt with saddle soap and perhaps weight the strop by putting something on it so it dries flat. Sometimes wet leather when left to its own devices will sometimes curl when drying. Once it's thoroughly dry (this may take a few days) just condition it with some oil (neatsfoot, mink, Lexan, etc.) or strop dressing on both sides...it may take more than one application depending on how much oil you sucked out while cleaning.

Don't worry...most decent leather is almost indestructible and I'm sure you can bring it back to a useful condition.

Well, it's good to know there's still a chance. Getting it flat to dry won't be a problem, neither will the neatsfoot once it is dry. Man, this really sucks.

One thing I forgot (it's been a while since I've had to de-water any of my leather stuff) in my original post is a trick someone showed me once.

If you have one of those new-fangled micro fiber cloths you can wrap in it that and squeeze under light pressure and the cloth will literally wick the moisture away. If it was my strop I'd wrap it and put it between a couple heavy boards (so it doesn't curl) and check it every day until it's dry.

My advice would be to make sure it drys quickly. You don't want mold to begin to form. I would do what Tex said there and absorb as much of the moisture as possible, maybe a high absorption towel on it, then you standing on the towel and the strop. Then if it's warm enough out, let it dry, or run some air past it. Maybe a blow dryer on an air setting?

I would just let it dry slowly by itself and then once that happens you can access the situation. Worse comes to worse you could use it as a pasted strop so all is not lost. You may find once its dry that its fine.

Thanks for the help, guys, but I lost it tonight. Had it between towels with wood on top for a flat surface. I checked it about an hour ago and for some reason, in spite of the weight, there's a spot about the size of a silver dollar that wrinkled up like an American football (not to be confused with a reall football) about a third of the way up. So... I'm going to wait until payday and see if I can get a replacement. Live and learn.

Originally Posted by maplemaker

Thanks for the help, guys, but I lost it tonight. Had it between towels with wood on top for a flat surface. I checked it about an hour ago and for some reason, in spite of the weight, there's a spot about the size of a silver dollar that wrinkled up like an American football (not to be confused with a reall football) about a third of the way up. So... I'm going to wait until payday and see if I can get a replacement. Live and learn.

I'm sorry to hear that but don't give up hope just yet. I seem to remember that there is a remedy for this problem too. Trouble is it's been a couple decades since I've fooled with leather and I don't remember the exact procedure. You might try a Google search and see what comes up or if there's a saddle shop or Tandy Leather Company store in your area you might discuss it with them as they would probably know what to do.

Good luck!

I'll try Tandy today. Don't have anything to lose with that. Thanks.