Thread: What are you working on?

I rescently picked up a vintage brush that i didnt have in the collection. The boar knot was falling apart and needed replace. So i went with the SHD fan shaped badger knot in 20mm. It is a perfect fit for the handle but a little small for my liking. Still a nice useful brush. I had wanted to try the fan shape and now I have. I think if it was a 24 to 26mm id enjoy it more.

Nice brush Jerry!
I too am a fan of the fan top knot style.
24-28 mm and it’s perfect.

I keep thinking i could have set it a couple mm deeper. But its so small it just didnt look right deeper. Used it twice now. Works well for a small knot.

I bet it fits nicely in that tub of Clubman soap.

Yes Mike. Its about perfect for that little tub. Lol. Guess i will have to give it a go tonight.

I acquired a Biber strop. The leather is good, and there are a few nicks, but not in a critical position. There is a stain which needs further appraisal, but the big issue is that unfortunately it has been folded, and there are creases in the leather in the middle of the strop.



Can anything be done? I am thinking:
-trying pressing the leather, possibly wetting it first
-if that doesn't work, lightly sanding the folded section of the strop

The strop was a few euros, so there is nothing to lose, and I don't mind being a bit experimental.

All ideas welcome. Many thanks!

Just needs hydrating and rolling. Go slow, it can take months to properly hydrate a vintage strop. Dont roll it until it is hydrated and flexable.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Just needs hydrating and rolling. Go slow, it can take months to properly hydrate a vintage strop. Dont roll it until it is hydrated and flexable.

Many thanks! What does rolling mean here?

There are several posts on hydrating a leather strop, basically wet the strop with a damp sponge on both sides, wait 15 minutes for the water to absorb.

Then apply about a half to a teaspoon of Neetsfoot oil or Ballistol to the strop in 3 or 4 places, one in the middle, one near each end, quickly rub into the strop. Do not use more than ½ a teaspoon total, just a few drops on each spot.

I use a 2oz. plastic spray bottle, it delivers less than a ¼ oz of Ballistol per shot.

Flip the strop, re-wet the back side and apply ½ teaspoon to the back.

It is ok if it does not cover the leather completely. It will spread out in a couple days. The water will drive the oil deep into the strop. The hard part is to wait for 5-7 days before applying more oil, longer is better.

If you add too much oil too quickly, it will not absorb deep into the leather and can rot the strop.

After several applications, over several weeks the strop should be hydrated enough to become pliable.

Pick up a rolling pin from a thrift or dollar store, suspend the pin from the handles and roll the strop on the pin, bending the strop over the rolling pin slightly and slowly. If you feel the leather cracking, stop and add another cycle of water and oil.

Eventually the leather will become soft and floppy without breaking the leather fibers. The goal is a soft flexible leather strop that will polish the bevel and edge of a razor. Rolling will loosen the fibers and make the strop soft and flat. It will also remove the stretch marks from folding, depending on how much damage was done to the fibers.

It has taken many years for your stiff strop to get to the condition it is in now and can take weeks or months to bring it back.

Here is a post showing how to make a Flax Firehose strop, I use the same technique of rolling the flax to loosen the fibers of a board stiff cleaned flax strop, photos on post 56.


https://sharprazorpalace.com/strops/...ichigan-2.html

Originally Posted by Euclid440

...
Pick up a rolling pin from a thrift or dollar store, suspend the pin from the handles and roll the strop on the pin, bending the strop over the rolling pin slightly and slowly. If you feel the leather cracking, stop and add another cycle of water and oil.

Eventually the leather will become soft and floppy without breaking the leather fibers. The goal is a soft flexible leather strop that will polish the bevel and edge of a razor. Rolling will loosen the fibers and make the strop soft and flat. It will also remove the stretch marks from folding, depending on how much damage was done to the fibers.
...

Yes, I have seen the posts on resurrecting strops, and the technique has worked on a couple for me in the past.

I have eased those strops on a stainless steel towel rail, and just working it gently in my hands has worked too, though obviously a roller is better.

Many thanks!