Thread: flattening a linen fire hose

I have recently got a firehose linen strop, and it looks like it loved the shape it got in transit, because it doesn't want to flatten. I followed some of the tricks in this thread, to no avail.

Here is the original state


So I made it wet with a water spray bottle and I ironed it with steam, and it got a little bit better.

Then, I made it wetter, and I attached a 3 lbs weight to it (and put a plastic bag around the leather to protect it)


While It was under weight, I also put lateral pressure on it, which created some kind of cylinder. This was in the hope of disrupting these waves in the fabric.

Then, I rubbed it on the back of a chair (about 100 passes)
The final result:


What should I do next to get this strop to the next level?
It is held by Chicago screws... I could detach it, but is there a risk that it would shrink or expand in a problematic way?

I would take it apart if it were mine and soak it completely wet (even wash it a little maybe) and then let it dry with weights on it as shown. it will appear to shrink when wet (i think this is all part of the weave and the linen that makes the fire hose hold water) but it will expand back to it's normal length when dry(at least that's how mine reacted). make sure the ends are sealed so it doesn't unravel . JMHO

Originally Posted by tintin

I would take it apart if it were mine and soak it completely wet (even wash it a little maybe) and then let it dry with weights on it as shown. it will appear to shrink when wet (i think this is all part of the weave and the linen that makes the fire hose hold water) but it will expand back to it's normal length when dry(at least that's how mine reacted). make sure the ends are sealed so it doesn't unravel . JMHO

Sealed? How? Painters tape? Duct tape?

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Originally Posted by malaverdiere

Sealed? How? Painters tape? Duct tape?

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i used super glue on mine.

Should I seal the holes too? Or will it become hard to assemble back?

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Sealing the holes would not be a bad idea either. By the way, cotton and some other fabrics smoke a bit when Cyanoacrylate "CA" is used on them. Not to worry. The holes can be drilled out as the surrounding area will be hard.
YMMV
~Richard

Euclid440, when you use the rolling pin is the strop dry, damp or wet?
Thx

Ok I figured it out. I gave it a light soak then ironed the two firehose strops. Then a soaker in the bath tub. Stuf came out. I hanged them from a chair on the patio, run a string through the pre existing holes. On the other side I attached a 5 lbs weight to each of them. Once dry they were very floppy and pliable.
I run them shortly on the rolling pin and voila, soft like a sock.

Trying again, taking an inspiration from alex1921..

After washing and one extra rince


Attached from a chair with zip tie and 3lb weight.


I was proactively shaping it. I cupped it and pushed material where I think it should go.
By morning, it was dry, but still in the cupped shaped. Conclusion: more weight than 3lbs is needed when drying.


After that, it was rolling pin time. Here's how stiff it was and my 'jig'


I wasn't satsified - it was better, but not flat yet. So, I wrapped it in a towel cloth (to protect from dust) and put it under my tool box.


The end result is much better, but still has a few indentations that need to be fixed. Tonight I'll try dampening and ironing.

The kind of 'memory' is material has impressive. I think that active shaping when wet is the way to go. Perhaps this is what happens when more weight is attached to it.