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Hi,
I'd like to fix/recondition an old strop (that feels a bit "greasy").
I thought I'd handsand it with sand paper (rather than a pumice stone).
What grit of wet/dry sand paper do you advise me to use? (I've read about any number ranging from 300 to 3,000...)
thanks
Christophe,
While I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, if your strop feels greasy, you may want to wash it rather than sand it. Cold water and mild soap is the way to go. Do not use detergents, as they will dry the ever loving crap out of the leather. Lay it flat face down on an even surface to dry and keep it from heat sources and sunlight. The idea is to have a slow even dry to avoid cupping and twisting of the thing. You may want to consider covering it with a lint free cotton cloth (also known as "old T-Shirt" in some elite circles) and a heavy book to keep it flat and help draw out the moisture. BTW, you don't want to soak the dang thing, just wash the surface with soap and quickly rinse. Should be dry in a day or two.
Now, if you're really bent on sanding the thing, I've brought an old strop back using 220 (fine) wood sandpaper from 3M. I had a long way to go to get rid of nicks on it, and the finer stuff clogged way too easy. This clogged too, but not as often, and it did a fine job leaving a smooth finish. Once I was happy with the surface I wiped it with a damp, lint free cotton cloth and left it to dry in the basement. I tried conditioning it with a bottle, but didn't work all that great and I kept spilling beer all over which make the wife unhappy. I eventually got some strop paste (actually, the wife did) I think it's Stromm, and I put some of that a couple of days in a row, and then rolled with a bottle and it was primo from then on.
To celebrate the success I bought a new Illinois strop. Well, the wife did, but it's mine anyway.
And I was kidding about the spilled beer; I would never, under any circumstances spill good beer. Or bad beer, for that matter.
I hope this is of some help. Best of luck,
Marcos
I would give it a once-over with a fine wet sandpaper like 320, and then use a little saddle soap to clean. As Snake said, not soaking it, and then carefully drying. Depending on the look/feel after it's dry, I might also work a small amount of conditioner (e.g. Dovo yellow paste, or mink oil) into the leather.
Why not try cleaning it with Saddle soap first. It's great for cleaning leather. Once clean and dry, you can re treat with a very small amount of neetsfoot oil. Linen components can be cleaned with woolite.
It can always be sanded, but not un sanded.
I reasently cut a new piece and sanded down the orginal leather with a 1500 grit dry paper. The leather wasn't dirty just badly cut from my learning period :P Try to clean it first, propably should dry it slowly afterwards, assuming the same applies for strop leather as for shoes.
would that make a difference to use a DMT 325 versus sand paper 320 ?
thanks for the ideas