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I have heard how fantastic fire hose strops are. I was determine to find one and have on Ebay. The person I bought mine from has about 50 new ones he has made. I have no idea how good this is but I can't wait to try it. As usual I am having a problem downloading a photo of the strop. I am not sure if posting his name is in the rules so if anyone is interested, pm me for his contact info and a photo. When I get it I will try and take another photo to post.
The trick with Fire Hose strops is, it must be clean, washed and rinsed several times, to get all the dirt out of the weave.
I made some strops from NOS firehose that spent its life in a firehose cabinet, it took 7-8 soaking, washing, soaking and rinsing cycles before the rinse water rinsed clear. It took me 2 weeks to go through the whole cycle.
The hardest thing is to rinse all the soap out, soap attracts dirt and dust.
A properly clean linen strop should be as soft as an old sock. It should not need to be ironed to lay flat.
And yes, they can polish an edge.
And, No, I do not have any for sale, it is a lot of work.
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OK----OK---Marty so I get it.
It's ALOT of work but do you know where I can get a piece of that NOS firehose?
I'm a glutton for punishment!
The pieces I bought were from a member (IDRider) I don’t know if he has any left.
There was a guy on EBay selling pieces for a few dollars per foot. It does shrink. I don’t recall how much exactly, but I think about 2 inches in length, the width stayed the same.
There is an old post on it where idrider offered to sell pieces, and others posted about making one.
I know we have discussed this before but you can get quality Linen imported from France perfect for making a strop. You just need to look for a Bakers Cartouche. Amazon has them in all sizes.
PM me, I think I have some left.Quote:
Originally Posted by FranfC
Just got the fire hose strop. Soft and tight weave. I did 20 laps then 40 on my TM leather strop. Really nice edge. Very polished and the shave was smooth with no irritation. Well worth the money.
Think the spell corrector nicked your post.
It is a baker's couche.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...3Abakers+linen
Ebay also has them.
You have to check the thickness and whether the ends are finished or left unfinished.
Lately, I have been making some with a bit more modern polyester fire-hose from the 70's.
Like a leisure-suit! :rofl2:
I prefer it to antique unlined linen stuff anyday.
This is lined with a thin, neutral membrane. The sort of stuff for one-use like we may have seen in buildings, Hotels, etc.
It irons-out nice and strops much smoother.
In fact, My old natural linen ones I cleaned and restored are getting super-stiff with time.
Seems the nature of the stuff.
Polyester fire-hose.
Attachment 264112
The one I have from you is superb. Both the fire hose and the boar leather have a light, satisfying draw. 30 hose/120 leather goes by like a dream.
Razorfeld:Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfeld
I am curious about the boar leather, any pic's?
How thick is it and what's the surface like?
Light draw say like Horween cordovan? or something else?
Thanks
Frank
Frank, I'm comparing the draw to my English Bridal Leather strop.
Sharptonn will be reading this and I'm sure he will provide the other details you ask about. He already has pics to show (my photo skills are close to an unmentionable word). I will say the surface is exceedingly smooth and does require a heck of a lot of hand rubbing to start limbering up the leather. After all, it is perfectly preserved NOS.
These strops are from Tripoli Barber supply which went out of business in 1955.
Stored for so many years, they were quite stiff.
Through experimentation, I have found that up to 5 heavy applications of pure mink oil on the back sides followed by light wipes of same on the front renders them quite pliable and remarkably effective.
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These are a bit over 3mm thick, while I do have a few other vintage examples which are much thicker.
The front is lightly grained and quite smooth while the back sides resemble a football
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I have only seen vintage examples of pigskin/boarhide strops.
From reading, it would seem they were favorites of some barbers back in the day.
Most every barber supply seems to have had them in their lineup.
Indeed some tough stuff as one could imagine.
All of mine have survived in great condition.
As conditioned, just light hand-rubbing keeps them going nicely.
Richard received one which I had slathered with Bick 4 conditioner.
Worked OK, but not as good as the mink oil.
Send it back, Richard. Only the boar.
I will treat it and send it back. You will be amazed.
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Pure mink oil, hard to find but worth acquiring for sure Tom.
Does a top notch job on good footware as well.
Beauty strops bro...
:tu
I have found that some mink oil has additives. Hard to find any which do not.
Avoid silicones, they say.
Anyway, does not make a holy mess like the neetsfoot.
As it absorbs-in, not oily at all.
Update
Thank you Marty for the link to Steve as well as the inspiration & information to tackle this project.
Steve thank you for such a great deal on the flax firehose, my son and I will put it to some good use.
Now the fun begins!
to the OP, i really like using linen hose.. the 1956 is a bit more stiff and rough, even after washing a couple of times using fabric softener..
(btw thanks to Euclid for suggesting giving a couple more washes... )
one thing to point out is that this IS a hose, and is meant to have no leaks, so when it's humid or wet it gets way stiffer and hardetr as the fibers of linen swell, and that's how it would not leak water all over... so not to be afraid while you are washing it if you feel like it goes "plastic" solid or too stiff... it will soften when the linen dries... and eve better if you Iron it at the to make sure it's absolutely dry.
the 1970 or later is softer and thinner, and the webbing is finer (thinner treads).. which (i guess) makes it softer.
i have some 1956 and 1970 in stock for my strops production... I normally sell here in Costa Rica but here's a pic of one i made a while ago for a forum member paired with kangaroo skin :)
Attachment 264507
Attachment 264508
review of that one should have to be provided by that member ;)
but as they say the more you make the more you learn.. and technique is improving with each strop i make :)
I am very much enjoying the Tripoli I got from you, Tom. You got this strop performing so nicely. And, they seem to get even better with use. Mighty fine custom hardware and all! Top notch jobQuote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
Back atcha with the Tuzi Horsehide!
Looks like Gabe has some nice ones going as well! :tu
That's a fact!Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
Thanks Tom!! Sent you a PM asking for info on how to het one of thos tripoli :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
Sent from my SM-G903M using Tapatalk
Ah, the good old strop-swap! :D
While your's has fancy handles and such, mine, while being a barber's standard, DO come with an awesome ''Razored Threads' strop-sock from our own Razorfeld. :)
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Tom, ya'll just too much at times!
HAR! The one on the right was a limited-production.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfeld
I think I have the only one of one! :rofl2:
Really brings out the red in your eyes Tommy....Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
;)
Awesome idea those protectors are. Might have to ask the misses to make me a few.
Been treating my tuzi horsehide to some backside loving with cheesecloth and neetsfoot, a little at a time over the last few days. Slowly getting it worked in to go in the rotation.
Go to the mink oil Mike! Just saying! ;)
Can't find it,,,,,:banghead:
Was in the shoeshine box, but that was before a daughter moved back in,,,,,
;)
Can't even find the shoes now, let alone the shine box,, hehe.
Dem kids, Mike! I told ya! Attachment 264526Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeB52
:)
The Cotton/Linen strop from TomoNagura is what I use and it is incredible. Very high quality linen and great firehose. Keith makes a amazing strop.
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