'Tiger' 4-sided Paddle Strop

I picked up this 4-sided paddle strop recently. It's in very good shape, good enough I plan to use it for my work shave kit. It's marked '1912' in pencil.

But I need a little help with id'ing each side...
- Black Leather: not pasted, probably for finishing?
- Red Leather: seemed to be pasted, but is mostly clean now. Should I reapply some FeO2? (That's red, right?)
- Hard Wood: stained red, possibly from FeO2?
- Cardboard: I think, it's not wood. Can't see how this side would perform.

Thanks!
Ray

try it n let us all know!...;)

pcdad

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pcdad

try it n let us all know!...;)

pcdad

---

Yeah, I hear you...but I'd like to get a little info, too.

...Ray

Just my $.02 here.....

I think you have a 2 sided paddle strop, not 4.

I would clean the black and red sides with non abrasive GOOP or other leather cleaner first.

Then leave the black side alone to use as a plain leather strop.

I would not reapply the red iron oxide, it is far to coarse. Instead I would apply some 0.5 micron chrome oxide and use that only when the edge starts to "pull" a bit or the Dovo black or 0.5 diamond or cerium oxide or.......
Do not use the Dovo/TI green paste either, also to coarse.

Hope this helps,:)

Thanks, Randy. Both leather sides cleaned up nicely with saddle soap. A light sanding with some 600 grit took care of a couple rough spots and now it looks darn good. I have some chrome oxide so I'll give that a go.

I believe you're right about it being 2-sided. The pasted wood side threw me. I guess it's a 2 1/2-sided strop. :)

...Ray