project strops

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05-01-2019, 01:50 PM
joelkerr

6 Attachment(s)

project strops

So I have 3 strops to work in, hopefully I will be able to begin soon. I don't have a suitable workspace in my apartment, so I have to wait until it's nice enough to work outside. And it snowed again just yesterday....

Anyways, here are the strops:

Kanayama 70,000
Attachment 306290
I already worked a lot on the canvas side, so all there is to do is sand out a scratch on the leather. The leather is beautiful!
Attachment 306291

Clydesdale Horseshell
Attachment 306292
This one needs some sanding and rehydrating. The canvas could use a cleaning, too.
Attachment 306293

Sorry all the photos are sideways, I still haven't figured out how to rotate them....

C-Mon Blackie
Attachment 306294
I just got this one a couple of days ago. Not really a PC name, but a really nice strop. After restoring the black Arab Shell strop this winter, I was curious to see another blackened strop. The two are actually quite similar. This one also just needs some sanding and rehydrating, but the canvas will need a serious cleaning. The stamp on the canvas is quite nice, I'll have to figure out how to preserve it in the cleaning process.
Attachment 306295
05-01-2019, 02:38 PM
Tony Miller

Looks like some fun projects. I do have one vintage strop here in pretty good shape. Might be fun to give it a new life.
05-01-2019, 05:52 PM
Theoman

When you want to send some of those my way let me know some prices. Very cool pieces.
05-01-2019, 05:59 PM
joelkerr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theoman

When you want to send some of those my way let me know some prices. Very cool pieces.

They would be mostly for my own use, but I might be able to part with one to sent to you, Theoman - I'd know it was going to a good home!

I'm planning to post pics throughout the process, too.
05-01-2019, 06:01 PM
Theoman

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelkerr

They would be mostly for my own use, but I might be able to part with one to sent to you, Theoman - I'd know it was going to a good home!

I'm planning to post pics throughout the process, too.

A good home is what most of us want for our found things. Care for them well my friend.
05-01-2019, 08:03 PM
RezDog

Nice strops to start with.
05-01-2019, 09:54 PM
bouschie

From what I see in photos the Llama leather looks fine the way it is.
The canvas on the C-Mon can easily be cleaned. Remove it from hanger. I use a finger nail brush and dish washer liquid with oxy clean. Scrub light pressure in all directions both sides and rinse thoroughly. Just do not scrub over label. Place on paper towels and dry flat.
05-01-2019, 10:03 PM
MikeB52

Nice projects all!
The trick with posting photos is they will always display in landscape mode.
So assuming you use a phone, take them holding ithe phone sideways and they will always appear as such on the forum.
If you take them holding the phone upright, they will post sideways.
Dunno why, it just works.
05-02-2019, 12:01 AM
joelkerr

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bouschie

From what I see in photos the Llama leather looks fine the way it is.

It has a big scratch, almost a gouge, to get rid of. Other than that it's in great shape.
Attachment 306317

Quote:

The canvas on the C-Mon can easily be cleaned. Remove it from hanger. I use a finger nail brush and dish washer liquid with oxy clean. Scrub light pressure in all directions both sides and rinse thoroughly. Just do not scrub over label. Place on paper towels and dry flat.

Thanks! I was also thinking of a vinegar soak, in addition to this. Only for the C-Mon, probably.
05-02-2019, 04:58 AM
ppetresen

Pretty cool projects. I have a strop I would really like to give a go at touching up but I don't really have ton confidence with leather to give it a go just yet. Looking forward to seeing how these turn out!
05-02-2019, 01:24 PM
joelkerr

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppetresen

Pretty cool projects. I have a strop I would really like to give a go at touching up but I don't really have ton confidence with leather to give it a go just yet. Looking forward to seeing how these turn out!

Well, I've only completed one in my life so far, but it was a lot easier than restoring a razor!
05-07-2019, 11:23 PM
MisterClean

Nice bunch of Strops. Thanks for sharing.
06-01-2019, 10:24 PM
joelkerr

3 Attachment(s)

I finally had a bit of time to work on these strops today. I sanded them down, brushed them with a horse hair brush and wiped them with a damp cloth. After I photographed them, I applied some saddle soap to the Clydesdale and the C-Mon (not to the Kanayama). The Clydesdale and the C-Mon each had a spot that I couldn't quite sand out (shown in the close-up photos), but still feels smooth enough to the touch that I doubt it will pose a problem while stropping. We'll see, I guess. Anyways, I'm happy how they turned out, especially the Kanayama (which was in great shape to begin with).

Attachment 307545

Attachment 307546

Attachment 307547
07-17-2019, 01:06 PM
joelkerr

4 Attachment(s)

Well, I think the Clydesdale and the C-Mon are finished! They are nice and hydrated, very supple. I cleaned the linens, which was very necessary (see the bathtub photo after I was finished - gross!). They look great, and I can't wait to begin using them! They will still need a bit of a working in, so I probably won't use a razor on them for a week or two, but I'm very happy with the results.

The Red Imp was in great condition. I only cleaned it, and it doesn't look like it needs to be sanded in the end. I will probably put a bit of mink oil on it in a week or two, but it's pretty much ready to go. The linen component was pretty dirty as well. Unfortunately the stamp on the linen completely disintegrated when it touched water, which is too bad, it was really nice! But you can still see the remnants.

Attachment 309301

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07-17-2019, 01:23 PM
RezDog

When I first started there were a lot of NOS strops on the market, and not so much anymore. Even nice vintage lines are rarely seen. Those three look like you will be able to enjoy them for some time.
07-17-2019, 11:51 PM
alex1921

2 Attachment(s)

Nice strops. I just cleaned a red imp linen and was curious how the stamp would hold through the soaking. Well this is the result. I soaked it in a plastic bucket and the water looked nasty as well.

Attachment 309320

Attachment 309321
07-18-2019, 12:15 AM
joelkerr

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex1921

Nice strops. I just cleaned a red imp linen and was curious how the stamp would hold through the soaking. Well this is the result. I soaked it in a plastic bucket and the water looked nasty as well.

yeah, exactly the same! what a shame
07-18-2019, 02:06 PM
Euclid440

Yup, not found a way to clean linen and preserve the stamps, they do clean up well with a bit of soaking and scrubbing. A vinegar soak and rinse will get all the soap out of the weave. Soap will collect dirt and dust. Dirt on a strop, linen or leather is not a good thing.

Nothing like vintage linen. I do believe stropping is way underrated and vintage flax linen is way, way under rated.

Nice work, beautiful strops.
07-18-2019, 03:04 PM
joelkerr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Yup, not found a way to clean linen and preserve the stamps, they do clean up well with a bit of soaking and scrubbing. A vinegar soak and rinse will get all the soap out of the weave. Soap will collect dirt and dust. Dirt on a strop, linen or leather is not a good thing.

Nothing like vintage linen. I do believe stropping is way underrated and vintage flax linen is way, way under rated.

Nice work, beautiful strops.

I'm happy that I was able to preserve the stamps on the Clydesdale and the C-Mon, at least! Although I did slip with my brush and smear the lower stamp on the Clydesdale, but it's not bad. It just looks a little faded.