Restoring an Illinois 206

[U2Bono269]

I just got an Illinois 206 strop. It's very old but seems to be in decent condition so I've been working on it. So far, I've cleaned up the metal bits (they had a lot of green gunk) and I've been cleaning the leather part of the strop. It has no creases but a slight wave in it. I took off a lot of the gunk on the leather with some 0000 steel wool and wow is it soft. The linen side is still and discolored but otherwise in good shape. So as I continue this project I have two questions. I looked around the site for info and didn't find quite what I was looking for.

1. The leather is smooth, but still has some marks on it. They would not come out with steel wool or light soap and water. When I pass my hand over these marks, it feels as smooth as the rest of the strop. Do I need to get these marks out or are they ok to stay? They are right in the center of the strop. I can't get a clear picture but the marks almost look like a track from a bike tire...

2. What do I do to the linen side? I'm thinking of soaking it in some laundry detergent. I don't have bleach. Would a little soak and rinse in some water and detergent make it usable?

After I have the strop cleaned, I plan on treating it with some mineral oil and pressing it. Anything else I should do?

[cpcohen1945]

There's a piece in the Wiki about fixing strops:

Strop treatment and repair - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I wouldn't use mineral oil; leather and mineral oil don't go together well, usually. Neatsfoot oil -- applied from the back -- would probably be better. And if the leather is soft already, you might want to use Fromm Strop Dressing, or just rub the strop with your palm.

If you can't _feel_ the "tire tracks", I wouldn't worry about them.

Charles

[nun2sharp]

Scrub the linen with soap and water and let it air dry for several days. Dont worry about stains on the leather, they are simply cosmetic. Clean the leather with saddle soap and let it air dry for several days with the linen. When the leather is dry, give it some neatsfoot oil and let it soak in. Once the oil has soaked in, attach all the components with the original clean hardware and enjoy!

If you are still concerned about the "tread marks", dont be, leather by its very nature is somewhat irregular. See how it performs, that is the true test. I have a number of vintage strops, none of them are pristine.

[U2Bono269]

Ok so it's done. I didn't let it dry for a few days...just overnight. If I had read this before I reassembled it and used it, I would have let it sit more, but oh well, it's over now.

I sanded the leather with 0000 steel wool. Wiped it clean with a damp cloth, and let dry. Once it was dry, I treated it with mineral oil...I don't have any neatsfoot oil and I'm trying to use what's on hand. It worked just fine.

I scrubbed the linen and let it dry. Reassembled. Looks great. From what I can see it looks great too. Leather is so soft and smooth I want to sleep on it. Gave a nice feel when I stropped on it. The linen is a bit rough, but I think it's what my edge needed.

Overall I think it's a success and I might abandon my plans to buy a new Star Shaving 3'' strop.

[nun2sharp]

So, how is the shave?

[mrsell63]

If you are not totally satisfied with the linen side, scrub it with a soft bristle brush and Woolite in luke warm water. Let dry again for several days. Woolite seems to have a softening effect on the linen.....

Jerry
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[U2Bono269]

Didn't shave with it yet. I shave every other day. Tonight's the night.

I was pretty happy with the linen side. It's stiff but not hard. It has a nice texture.

[nun2sharp]

A lot of those old linens were stiff to begin with.