Can this old padde strop be fixed?

As I mentioned in my hello thread I have an old paddle strop that used to belong to an old girlfriends grandfather and although I have used it a few times I'm going to make myself (actually my OH will be making it for me as a present) a new hanging strop but I was wondering if this old paddle strop can be fixed so I can use it whilst travelling?

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...tropMedium.jpg

The no#1 side is very rough and the no#2 side has a few nicks and scrapes, when I used it it sounded a little scrapey as if it had some bits of metal stuck in the surface.

Any thoughts? :shrug:

I would just strip the leather off and put new down. Depending on the size, you could cut down a replacement piece of leather from your favorite strop maker, or experiment with something from a local leatherworker.

You could sand one side with fine wet and dry paper (the type that leaves no grit behind) and use that as a coarse side or dress it, and renew the other leather. Safer to do as Benjamin suggests though - strip both sides and renew, perhaps pasting one side or using two very different leathers.

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

You could sand one side with fine wet and dry paper (the type that leaves no grit behind) and use that as a coarse side or dress it, and renew the other leather. Safer to do as Benjamin suggests though - strip both sides and renew, perhaps pasting one side or using two very different leathers.

Regards,
Neil

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+1
The issue is that it may be loaded with any grit.
I have some loose 8000 grit on leather for kitchen
knives and it does sound a lot coarser than my
8K Norton but may give about the same polish
but not the same quality bevel.

Scrub it with a white to green Scotch Brite and some saddle
soap almost no water and see if it cleans up. 3M Wet Dry
like Neil said is a very good choice too.

If I had the leather handy I would peal the old off
and add new. If I had to hunt for leather I would
try harder to clean it up.

Do consider running a non critical razor, kitchen or hunting knife on
it to see if it scratches or polishes steel.

I thought you guys might say that replacing the leather would be the best option, oh well I think I'm going to make a new one and keep this as an antique :D

Thanks for your help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CyberPaddy66

I thought you guys might say that replacing the leather would be the best option, oh well I think I'm going to make a new one and keep this as an antique :D

Thanks for your help.

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Replacing is the safest and most sure way to get
it to where you know exactly what it is going to do
when you use it. From this keyboard I see no special
value in the old leather.