Thread: 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?



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?

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

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

+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

Thanks for your help.

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

Thanks for your help.

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.