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.