Thread: Vintage strop has flecks of metal in it.

I have a vintage barber's strop that is 3 inches wide and very thick. The brand is Stutz or something like that out of Chicago. Anyway, it has always been a fast strop. The other day, I noticed a glint in the leather while stropping. Upon examining with a magnifying glass, I observed little shiny flecks all through the strop. It it normal for a strop to accumulate flecks of metal from razors? If so, is there any fix for it? I thought about scrubbing it with a stiff brush and lather, but I don't want to work the flecks even deeper.

Any pics?..they would help us give you a clearer answer ;-)

PcDad

I'll try, but I'm a little technologically challenged and my phone camera doesn't have a macro setting.

OK, here goes nothing...



The white things are the flecks.

Originally Posted by flyman

I have a vintage barber's strop that is 3 inches wide and very thick. The brand is Stutz or something like that out of Chicago. Anyway, it has always been a fast strop. The other day, I noticed a glint in the leather while stropping. Upon examining with a magnifying glass, I observed little shiny flecks all through the strop. It it normal for a strop to accumulate flecks of metal from razors? If so, is there any fix for it? I thought about scrubbing it with a stiff brush and lather, but I don't want to work the flecks even deeper.

Not normal in my opinion.

Metal is not as abrasive as abrasives (OK, OK) so they may be
harmless but the fact that you can see them tells me that
the strop was used in a shop where things other than razors
were machined. Other abrasives including the metal may be why
it is a fast strop for you.

If you like the shave you get do nothing. The shave
test is perhaps the only reference you need. i.e. your
face, your strop, your razor, your whiskers and your opinion
is all that matters here.

Me, I would saddle soap it... using my second oldest $7.95
VDH boar brush (my oldest is broken in too nice....). Other
kitchen brushes will work too. Do this multiple times letting
the strop fully dry between. Then apply in small
amounts at a time enough neatsfoot oil or non abrasive strop
dressing on every third day to eventually restore flexibility.
Then put it back in service.

I would not blindly "bottle" it. That would mash the bits down so deep
they would be there for good. If you tinker with it and it
gets worse than when you started cleaning it, then a bottle makes
sense especially if it scratches a bottle.