firehose strops Filler?

I've been playing around with the fire-hose that I got from a fine member here and was thinking. It doesn't lay very flat. The edges seem to stand higher than the rest because of the roll over on the sides. I have some thick material/Cloth. Was thinking of trying to fill the inside of the fire-hose a bit with it. Just slip it inside and was thinking this might make it more uniform across the fire-hose as far as being flatter.

Has anyone tried this before? Figured if I used something very flexible like cotton material it should still be able to move easy. Didn't want to put anything hard on the insides. Comments?

Have you tried ironing it?

I've been using a fire hose for a while. When I first got it a had some concerns because, as you described it seemed to have raised edges and there were also high and low spots along most of the material. I tried a few things. I left the strop under a granite surfacing plate for a few days hoping it would flatten it. Its a double fire hose strop so I flipped the material so I was using the 'inside' of the hose (side without markings) so id be stroping over dimples instead of bumps. In the end I couldn't get it much flatter so I did some experiments which consisted of coating the bevel with renaissance wax, then stroping with the fire hose and inspecting it under magnification to see how well the bevel was being cleaned. Turned out the strop was removing the wax very well along the entire bevel. I thought the dimples and raised edge would have prevented this but since it seemed to be doing it's job I just left it alone. I know this doesn't specially answer your question concerning filler but I was on the same track and realized the strop was doing it's job as is.

Thanks for the explaination Matt. It made sense to me. I ha e tried ironing it but that really didnt do much for it at all. Ive got a drop cloth i ran across years ago i use when painting walls. Its thick window curtain and has a very wide area on the bottom that has been folded over and sewn. I might see if i can cut a strip from it (scrape off what paint might be on it) and use a yard stick to stuff it inside. Ill post some pics if i get around to it.

I figure the strop is doing what it should do. Im just picky i guess, wanting it more flat.

I had some concerns as well when I got mine off ebay, plus it was dirty. So, after every cleaning cycle, I would hammer the heck out of it with a nylon faced hammer. What worked a little better was a technique off of coticule.be for breaking in kanayama linen, where you basically fold it in half and roll the fold down the length of the strop.

Ill give it a shot. Cant hurt that for sure. Thanks dinnermint.

Have you tried washing/soaking it and then hanging it to dry with weights ? IIRC Geezer uses pant hangers and small dumb bells.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

I've been playing around with the fire-hose that I got from a fine member here and was thinking. It doesn't lay very flat. The edges seem to stand higher than the rest because of the roll over on the sides. I have some thick material/Cloth. Was thinking of trying to fill the inside of the fire-hose a bit with it. Just slip it inside and was thinking this might make it more uniform across the fire-hose as far as being flatter.

Has anyone tried this before? Figured if I used something very flexible like cotton material it should still be able to move easy. Didn't want to put anything hard on the insides. Comments?

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I have a 2 1/2" firehose strop that had the same problem but after a few weeks of daily use, the edges have flattened out nicely and now its as floppy as any strop I own.
The "X" strokes seemed to tame the edges down fairly quickly. Give it some time, just my 2 cents.:D

Filled with curtain material, Washed twice and ironed hard. Drying right now but they do feel better with the filler in them. Still a bit lumpy but they are not thicker on the edges now.
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Gasman, thanks for doing ans sharing this research!
It is a very nice idea. I have never filled the firehose strops with anything cause i never seemed to have the need, much like MW76, I have checked with the microscope. If the strop was polishing all the edge and yes, i was, so i stopped worrying for the unevenness and the wrinkles some time ago.. you normally cant have it 100% flat.. but this is very nice idea indeed bro!

In fact, some of my japanese strops linen strops (you know, the old brown linen, not the new super stiff type that kanayamas come with now) are sort of a tubular strop just like the firehoses, and the sure come with some filler inside, much like what you are proposing here!!!

I´ll stay tuned to see your results man :)

Again, thanks for sharing!!

After some time drying and stretching. Much flatter. I think this will be nice in the end. I also ran the edge of a steal ruler back and forth on it so soften up a bit. They are very flexible.
But I was thinking that when mounting these, I wont be able to lock down both ends. As in sewing the bottom handle end as to keep them flat the material inside would need to move just a bit. Was thinking of putting a piece of leather on the bottom to lock it together with some strop bolts (cant remember what they are called but I got some) and oblonging the holes in the material inside. Plus not bolt it tight. Just some ideas I'm kicking around. If you understand what I'm trying to say here and have an idea, please reply. This has been an easy project and I think its coming along well. Just remember that the reason for doing this is just to make me feel better about the fire-hose. As its been said, its not really needed. Just for looks I guess.

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Needed or not, im a little jealous.

They look great!!

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Originally Posted by Gasman

If you understand what I'm trying to say here and have an idea, please reply.

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I think i understand, and have a suggestion. Maybe you can put the chicago screws in the top normally trough the screw and the internal material (did you end up using cotton ads mentioned in your first post?), so that the upper side is all very nice a tight, but for the bottom just cut the cotton shorter (about 1" shorter than the place where you will punch the firehose holes, if you will use leather termination and chicago screws in the bottom) so instead of making oblong holes you just don't make any holes... and let move(readjust) freely inside?

Another option is not to use terminations or screws in the bottom and go with he good old barber's end. Just use some crazy glue (cyanoacrylate) in the fire hose ends to prevent the threading to loose, and let the internal component short enough distance to internally adjust)

EDIT: ***just to clarify, the idea is not to glue the back of the bottom edge to the front, like closing the bottom of the hose, but leave it open and just glue the perimeter of the bottom end of the hose, you know, just like instead of sewing the ends just gluing it... ***

In any case, i recommend to use cyanoacrylate to fix the ends of the firehose and also the holes you punch for the screws. this is necessary to add durability by preventing the un-threading (or unraveling?) of the hose.

hope the ideas help :)

Sounds good Gabe. Basicly leave the material inside loose and short by a little at the bottom. And i had planned on a piece of leather across the bottom so only glue the outside of the firehose to the leather leaving room to flex and slide a bit.

Thanks for the idea. Nice option. Atatching at the top will be the chicago screws so a bit of CA to keep from unraveling is a good idea. I wasnt sure but thought about some big rivots with holes thru them but easier is always better.

Never knew of the firehouse for linen stop idea. Thanks guys and will have to be on the look out for some. Thanks for the idea and info gents.