What to Do (If Anything) With the Loose Ends?

Shalom!

I recently purchased this strop on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120056002779

It's in beautiful condition, and the linen strop is, indeed, still wrapped in its original wrapper -- does it get any "mintier" than this?

My questions are:

1. Both strops have "unsecured" loose ends; should I get a large "D"-ring (ala Dovo strops) and have the ends sewn or riveted around the flat part of the "D"-ring, for better handling/holding?
2. If so, should I attach a "D"-ring to each one, individually, or have the two strops connected to a single "D"-ring?

I'm sure that a traditional shoe-repair shop could do the sewing; but what of the idea, etc.?

OK, one last question: what about the DOVO strop dressings? yellow for the leather strop, and white for the linen strop?

TIA for sharing your knowledge and experience!

I have a strop similar to that. I just hold the "loose" ends in my hand, and pull the strops taunt.

I do not use any strop dressing. I just rub my palm on the leather 2 or 3 times a week.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in soon!

Ray

You lucky dog!!

Looks great.

As for your questions, look at Tony's number three strop (the cheap one with linen), it looks the same as yours. It is traditional to have strops made just like yours, no handles, no sewed ends. I wouldn't attach them, It is finished as it is.

unless less the leather is dry there is little need for dressing, then I use a light coat of Neetsffot oil but the DOVO yellow is what DOVO recommends. The white is for linen but I don't know what it exactly accomplishes. Someone with more experience could enlighten perhaps?

Ray is right about not needing the D-ring or any other handle ideas. You may need to give the surface a bit of conditioning, but I'd like to wait for Tony, Glen or Scott to chime in with the info on this b/c each one of them knows more about strops than you and I combined. FWIW I think you'll need to fix up a couple of spots on it, lather up, rub down and condition it.

P.S. I'd take off, clean up and polish the hardware if I were you. Not much work but it will also give amazing results.

I wondered the same thing when I got my new Tony Miller Heirloom #2. You pretty much just grab the end and pull it tight.

One thing to watch though: Depending how you grip it, it's possible to bend the leather so it ends up cupping slightly. I like to hold the strop at a 90-degree angle to my hand and just wrap my fingers around the end. I pull it taut then bend the end downward, which flexes the leather and avoids any cupping.

Good luck,
Josh

One thing to remember: You don't have to pull it hard enough to pull the hook out of the wall or even hard enough to stretch the leather. Just to keep it tight enough not to have more than 1cm/0.5" give when stropping.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joshearl

I wondered the same thing when I got my new Tony Miller Heirloom #2. You pretty much just grab the end and pull it tight.

One thing to watch though: Depending how you grip it, it's possible to bend the leather so it ends up cupping slightly. I like to hold the strop at a 90-degree angle to my hand and just wrap my fingers around the end. I pull it taut then bend the end downward, which flexes the leather and avoids any cupping.

Good luck,
Josh

---

To me that is the corect way. The strop is 90 deg to my hand, laying palm up. The strop lays flat across my index finger and is pinched in place by my thumb. I then roll my had towards me maybe 45deg and the index finger with the strop bent slightly over it serves to hold it flat and prevent cupping. I always hold linen and leather together as it stiffens the whole assembly.

Tony

Looks like a nice score. Does the strop lay flat, or is it "wavy"? Based on the photo, it looks like you may need to flatten it a bit.

RT

Thank you, Tony; and everyone else, as well.

I did disassemble it, as it were; a single screw to remove, and there she lay. The wrapper for the linen strop was whole and uncut, extending up-and-into the brass fitting. I slid it off, like a conundrum, cleaned-up a little verdigris, and reassembled her.

There is an ever-so-slight bend in the middle; not as pronounced as if it had been folded, but nevertheless there. Will the mass of several weighty books suffice to flatten it, or are more drastic measures required? Curious mind wants to know.

UPDATE: I figured that I'm as smart as the "average bear", so I folded a towel above and below, to cushion and protect the strop, then set a small (20lb) carton of books on top of it (all this, on the kitchen table). בוקר ונדע (in the morning, we'll know)

No nicks, cuts, or scrapes (a couple of light scratches). Aye, she's a beauty (apologies; just finished watching "Pirates of the Caribbean").

Yes, beautiful strop.

I agree with the others to not do anything to the ends. You want the two strops to remain separate. Just grip the two together and pull taught. You'll notice that the ends become bent over time, but that is ok. Keep the ends bent over your index finger, or index finger and thumb, to prevent "cupping." (see my example photos):

Attachment 1385 Attachment 1386 Attachment 1387

Do lots of hand dressings (rub palm over both strops while pulling them out) as often as possible. This will help condition, smooth and flatten your strops.

Scott