Thread: Linen Strop Cleaning and Reconditioning

i was afraid to leave the linen soaking overnight so that why it made sense to me about the carpet cleaner, because no soaking is involved,I understand your sig now.

Originally Posted by Martin103

i was afraid to leave the linen soaking overnight so that why it made sense to me about the carpet cleaner, because no soaking is involved,I understand your sig now.

There's more than one way to skin a cat, or clean a strop. I did the washing machine, elbow grease thing. It came out ok. Lot's of work, pressing inbetween heavy books to flatten it back out, etc...and then it came out so so. Even the ends of my vintage linen frayed, and had to be trimmed.

I read the carpet cleaner thing on here, and tried it recently. ( Thanks Jimmy, maybe? I'm not sure) Like Martin, I got great results with minimal effort. I still work a full time job, and hone on the side, My time is extremely limited, so I have to work smarter and faster.

Whatever works for you....

Enjoy,

Tried this method yesterday, worked great. Thanks.

Necromancy is Alive! Rise from the Dead Thread!



That Double Duck Strop I grabbed off eBay arrived (these are the pics from the listing):





Have applied some Fromm Strop Conditioner to the leather - drank it up faster than I could put it on, two thin coats and it's looking good - going let it sit for 24 hours as instructions read.

Took the linen side and gave it a scrub with some laundry soap and a brush as this thread mentioned, hanging up to dry now, the green stamp I tried to preserve, so only gave a light moist damping. The hardware is in great condition, polished that up as well. It's a really nice strop, 23" by 2.5", lots of runway to get a good stroke with the blade, leather is 3-4mm thick, will put it all back together and post a pic when it's done getting cleaned up.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread Phrank!


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After:

Thanks guys for good information!
Here's my method, Works well, for me ...if you have two linen components. Old pants hangers and the closures of them were bent to increase tension.:

Washed with washing machine then spotted with a brush and laundry detergent back into the machine for another wash and rinsing. The back single got a weight also.
~Richard

Wow Richard - awesome idea...

So you can actually wash the hard linen component then...I don't want to lose the green stenciled Double Duck logo though...the wash and scrub I gave it caused it to fade a tiny bit before I backed off that area (it's hanging to dry to now), wondering if throwing it in the wash would totally remove it?

Originally Posted by Phrank

Wow Richard - awesome idea...
So you can actually wash the hard linen component then...I don't want to lose the green stenciled Double Duck logo though...the wash and scrub I gave it caused it to fade a tiny bit before I backed off that area (it's hanging to dry to now), wondering if throwing it in the wash would totally remove it?

I do not know....................Sorry! Did not on a Illinois and did on another make.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

I do not know....................Sorry! Did not on a Illinois and did on another make.
~Richard

It's not an Illinois, I have an #827 and that's like rock...this is more a softer linen...just had a look and it's pretty clean in comparison, it's hanging to dry. The leather so far looks great, that Fromm Strop Conditioner is fantastic, I will put it all together tomorrow and take a pic.

Originally Posted by Geezer

Thanks guys for good information!
Here's my method, Works well, for me ...if you have two linen components. Old pants hangers and the closures of them were bent to increase tension.:

Washed with washing machine then spotted with a brush and laundry detergent back into the machine for another wash and rinsing. The back single got a weight also.
~Richard

Very cool idea Richard, seems like a very good way to keep good tension while drying. Also would like to say that after the cleaning i used the Dovo white paste for linen and canvas. Seems to me that after i originally apply to the linen that i get more out of each razors, it does have a mild abrasive to it.