Thought I could tell about some mistake I made working with vintage strop and how it ended.
I do not recommend my methods to anyone. But it may inspire someone to work with some vintage strop put away.
Hanging strop:
the canvas was very nasty. I tried sandpaper to make it look well/clean but it just got into a mess. So I cut it of, leaving a small part that could be used to put the handle back. This small canvas I washed with washing-up liquid.
The strop was badly folded, but had not developed “mini waves” from this, but a crack in the back.
I put one leather soap with a wet sponge but cleaned it away immediately with a wet sponge. I discovered this is wrong according to instructions: put on leather soap with a wet sponge, let it dry in and remove with fabric. However my method made the leather rather supple and I then ironed it with low temperature (nylon/silk setting). Then I put on leather soap with a wet sponge and let it dry in and removed it with a cloth according to instructions and repeated. Last time I picked up the strop with wet hand making the bright water grove in top, mistake!
The handle did not get nice looking with leather soap so I washed it just like the canvas and had in mind I would put on leather conditioner before it got dry. I forgot that and the leather handle looks and feels rather bad, at least I know it is clean. Not sure the handle is real leather.
End result a working strop.
The loom strops:
The one with canvas had so unclean canvas so I cut it of.
First I applied leather soap with wet sponge and removed it immediately with wet sponge.
I discovered both strops had bad leather in surface so I sanded from 120# up to 5000#. Then I used a GD spine with pressure to burnish the leather. Did not think of that the spine has a smile and the leather got a bit convex (perhaps it was before). Then hand/palm massage. Do not remember if I used some leather conditioner or not.
End result one working loom strop and one loose leather & wood part need to be put together.
Lesson learned:
Do not handle strops with wet hands.
If washing any leather remember to condition it (sparingly) before it dry, perhaps half dry and almost dry. When burnishing after sanding use smooth straight steel, no smiley.
I do not recommend my methods to anyone. But it may inspire someone to work with some vintage strop put away.
Hanging strop:
the canvas was very nasty. I tried sandpaper to make it look well/clean but it just got into a mess. So I cut it of, leaving a small part that could be used to put the handle back. This small canvas I washed with washing-up liquid.
The strop was badly folded, but had not developed “mini waves” from this, but a crack in the back.
I put one leather soap with a wet sponge but cleaned it away immediately with a wet sponge. I discovered this is wrong according to instructions: put on leather soap with a wet sponge, let it dry in and remove with fabric. However my method made the leather rather supple and I then ironed it with low temperature (nylon/silk setting). Then I put on leather soap with a wet sponge and let it dry in and removed it with a cloth according to instructions and repeated. Last time I picked up the strop with wet hand making the bright water grove in top, mistake!
The handle did not get nice looking with leather soap so I washed it just like the canvas and had in mind I would put on leather conditioner before it got dry. I forgot that and the leather handle looks and feels rather bad, at least I know it is clean. Not sure the handle is real leather.
End result a working strop.
The loom strops:
The one with canvas had so unclean canvas so I cut it of.
First I applied leather soap with wet sponge and removed it immediately with wet sponge.
I discovered both strops had bad leather in surface so I sanded from 120# up to 5000#. Then I used a GD spine with pressure to burnish the leather. Did not think of that the spine has a smile and the leather got a bit convex (perhaps it was before). Then hand/palm massage. Do not remember if I used some leather conditioner or not.
End result one working loom strop and one loose leather & wood part need to be put together.
Lesson learned:
Do not handle strops with wet hands.
If washing any leather remember to condition it (sparingly) before it dry, perhaps half dry and almost dry. When burnishing after sanding use smooth straight steel, no smiley.
