Thread: Old Red Imp strop question.

I just got my Red Imp strop yesterday and for it's age, it's in pretty good shape. The canvas side has a slight smell to it like a musty smell. It's not too bad, but I was wondering if there was a way to clean or sanitize it. Will a regular wash do it, hand wash, or maybe a dry cleaner? Thanks for any advice!

I've taken a half dozen or more vintage linens and washed them in a bucket of cold water using Woolite. I've also thrown one in the washing machine with a load of clothes. That one came out fine as well, but I would stick with the cold water in the bucket if I ever do anymore. In my case I washed them more to take out lumps from being stored rolled up than to get rid of any odors. Dried them flat with a couple of phone books on them and they came out well.

I've got a red imp strop and it is a favorite. A good buddy/barber friend from thirty years ago had one hanging on his barber chair back then. It was a top of the line strop for Certyfied.

Whilst on the subject Jim maybe you can answere a question.
This strop is the finest I own,Mecca Brand,scotch horse shell.F.W.E special.
I got it NOS in the orig wrapping.Question is The linin componant seems to be treated with an almost smooth plaster like finish,have never used it.
Ever see such a thing.

From what I've heard they used a chalk material to stiffen the linen strops. The red Imp I have does not have this. It has a material sewn in between which acts as a stiffener. I clean that one with hot water, some detergent and a scrub brush. It comes out looking like new.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Whilst on the subject Jim maybe you can answere a question.
This strop is the finest I own,Mecca Brand,scotch horse shell.F.W.E special.
I got it NOS in the orig wrapping.Question is The linin componant seems to be treated with an almost smooth plaster like finish,have never used it.
Ever see such a thing.

+ 1 What thebigspendur said. NOS linens from back in the day have that chalk. That strop, FWE horse shell is as good as it gets Bill.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

+ 1 What thebigspendur said. NOS linens from back in the day have that chalk. That strop, FWE horse shell is as good as it gets Bill.

It do's look like a chalk of sorts,it has a waxy feel.Maybe next time I have a blade going off it's feed I may try using it.
Your rgt Jim,that strop is IMO the best of the best,I do have an Aberdeen S.S Irsco?? made, that is a close second.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

It do's look like a chalk of sorts,it has a waxy feel.Maybe next time I have a blade going off it's feed I may try using it.
Your rgt Jim,that strop is IMO the best of the best,I do have an Aberdeen S.S Irsco?? made, that is a close second.

Ebay has been good to me years ago. I've got a Red Imp, a Certyfide with the Russian Cyrillic writing in the circular logo at the top, it is also a Certyfide. A couple of vintage and different C-Mon shells, a very old NOS Koken shell, a Craftsman, a Wester Bros, and a Dubl Duck. Those IIRC are all of my vintage strops. All are first rate. I rotate through them and my SRD premium 1, Tony Miller horse, HandAmerican horse and my Kanayama 80,000. The last one is almost too pretty to use.

I have a DD model 50 Horse strop which is a close second to the Imp just that it is shorter but does have a handle. I'm sad to say none of my modern strops come close to these two as good as the new ones are and they are very fine pieces. These two are really special.