Thread: Straightening Out a Vintage Strop

Well, a strop in a bag is a pig in a poke, you know.
If you are pressing it without any other action, it still may well crack on you.

But hey! I gave my advise in the previous thread.

Best of luck!

Originally Posted by Matt1222

Thanks very much for that info. I had no idea the linen strop was so versatile and good at getting a keen edge. I'll definitely give it s try using it as you said.

I was thinking that if the shell is a bit dry I would use a very very small amount of neetsfoot oil on it to help with conditioning and straightening. Is that the best conditioner for the job?

No. Water is the best first conditioner if the strop is dry. You can destroy leather by just saturating it with oil. Take a washcloth and just barely dampen it, then gently wipe the strop to transfer some moisture to it, wait 10 minutes, and gently wipe it with a dry cloth. IF you want to add some Neatsfoot oil, then only do it after the strop has been dampened and dried in this manner first. Use very little. Personally, I prefer only to apply the oil to the backside of the strop.

Originally Posted by Matt1222

No. I have received it. It's not a crease. Really a roll or curve. Can be pulled straight without any mark on the strop. But doesn't hang straight with only gravity's weight. I placed it under a few heavy text books until I could deal with it properly.



Attachment 267191

THERE's a pic! Now....What does the top side of the strop look like in the 'bent' area?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

THERE's a pic! Now....What does the top side of the strop look like in the 'bent' area?

More or less like the rest of the strop. A bit lighter in color perhaps. But over all, I'd say the same. Those black marks were on the strop when I received it. Haven't tried to clean them. Don't really feel like they protrude off the surface.

Very good! THAT is the money-shot! Wipe with damp cloth and condition as you feel best.
Just avoid a pile of neetsfoot.

Go slow, get some moisture in it and then press it some. I would begin with a good leather conditioner after that
After a few shots, hang it and begin rubbing it, both sides. Should come around.
Dry fibers in leather will break if not moisturized in some way.

Some advise from an old strop maker;

Thanks very much to everyone who helped me out! I really appreciate it! With your help I'll get this back to work in no time.

With no real crease that should come out easily. No heavy duty tactics needed.

Very timely thread for me, as I just bought Bouschie's old shell strop from our BST. It looks to be in great shape, but maybe a little wavey in the pics. I can't wait to get it home and try it out-I've never stropped on shell, and can't wait to try it!

It can take months to re-hydrate a vintage strop. Do so slowly, applying oil a few drops, at a time after opening the pores with a bit of water as described and waiting for the water to absorb.

Then wait a week or two before adding more. Too much too quick can be just as as damaging, as the lack of moisture.

The linen would probably benefit from soaking, scrubbing and most importantly through rinsing, and then rolling while damp. It can take several full cycles. Be careful when wet, you can literally break the strop in half. Flax will swell and get rock hard.

There are many good threads here on re-hydrating/ restoring leather and linen. If the strop has value to you, invest a little time, before you apply anything to it.

As many said. Slowly rehydrating the leather with water is the key in bring old strops back. Avoid oil until until you get it rehydrated