Thread: I think I got miself a dud...

So I was at the antique store yesterday, went through all 5 floors and couldn't find a darned thing (I was looking for straights and mugs/scuttles). Then out of the corner of my eye I see a strop it looked like trouble but I picked it up. all of a sudden shaving related things started popping up in places I was sure I had looked, not straights a but a couple nice DE's (one of which I bought) and some nice ceramics. I kept looking at the strop and knew I shouldn't buy it. It had clearly been folded, had a couple of places where a large chunks of leather had been "carved out" and a couple of cuts that were small but went about halfway in. I should have put it down, but it seemed to bring me a little luck and the price was low so I took it anyway.

Well I took it home and it looked worse than at the store. Nevertheless, I rubber cemented the cuts and sanded it mostly smooth (the parts that had been "carved out" are smooth but thinner than the rest of the strop. put some Dovo yellow conditioner on it (I don't have neatsfoot oil handy) burnished it with a bottle and let it sit flat overnight. Well it doesn't look too bad (who am I kidding???) but the leather has cracks where it had been folded and it's not going away. It's not super deep but would make it impossible to strop unless fixed. I know it's tough to tell without pics (I'll try and get some later) but does anyone think neatsfoot oil can fix cracks? If not, I noticed that the reverse side isn't really all that rough. can I sand and treat that side and use it to strop, it has no cracks or nicks. I really like the look of this strop and would like to save it.

Here are some pics I took with my camera phone...sorry about the quality

Doesn't look to bad to me.

So what can be done about those cracks? can i sand through them? Should I just see if some neatfsoot oil will do it? Any suggestions?

Personally, what I would do is probably a little outside the box of traditional wisdom.

I would rub my palm along the strop. You want to get some smooth sensations along the entire strop.

I would describe it as producing "dry heat" on your hand.

Figure out any way you can to make it smooth.

Then, treat the rest of it with some kind of oil. I use EVVO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) myself. Then let it dry.

Others will go nuts and talk about the potential for it to go rancid. You'd be convinced the razor will go rancid, get rabbies, and bite your neck while your sleeping~ despite recommendations to use EVVO centuries ago.

But, I would recommend some kind of oil based prep, and then let dry.

But, I get the sense that you were asking me specifically. I've been shaving with a straight for 8 years, but I'm no strop expert.

Dont listen to the above poster, the strop will go rancid, will bite you in your sleep and give you rabies!

Actually he is giving some good advice. My self I see a couple of options, sand lightly, use an oil, neatsfoot would be my preference but there are no laws concerning this that I know of. Try the back and see what happens. After the oil treatment and some time and usage I bet the fold will work out. Once oiled, be sure to work the leather. Across the width of the strop bend the material backwards a thumbs width at a time to limber the leather and move the oil around within it. Do not bend the leather from back to front, you will put wrinkles in it. It's a project have fun!

Antique shops...now THAT makes me want to go out and hit them and see what shaving stuff I can find from ages ago lol, really now I think I will go and hit a few I know of locally I never thought to find stuff at those!

Looks like a nice strop for being old and folded, and yes leather can be made to do darn near anything and can come back from things most other materials wont cause there a natural product of nature and so is resilient with proper care.

I've certainly seen worse. In fact that looks like a pretty decent vintage strop. With some TLC as described above it should turn out well. Have fun.

You should have cleaned the leather with saddle soap first, then re conditioned it....
The metal pieces should clean up nicely.....

I have seen antique store strops that my dog wouldnt bother to chew on that are priced like a Tony Miller or SRD. I know of one right now that is so old, hard and brittle with cracks and everything, its a Keen Kutter by Simmons for the low price of 49.95$. It's a steal! If they can get you to buy it.