Valet question

[zombiemann]

A while back I picked up a Valet Auto Strop for an antique shop for 10 bucks. The razor itself is in pretty good shape (needs a bit of cleaning). The box needs some cleaning but is in pretty good shape. The strop on the other hand.... looks like crap. Is it possible to recondition it? Or should I look at possibly replacing it?

 

[Luc]

I would try to restore the stop if there's no nicks or cuts in it. If the leather is not cracked it might be re-usable. I did one a while back and posted a procedure : http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/How_to_Restore_a_Strop

I would suggest trying the leather conditioner only and see what you get before you buy a saddle soap. But, by looking at the pictures, I think you will need the soap first...

 

[zombiemann]

Thanks for the input.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Do both. Recondition that one by any of several methods you will read about on this forum. Myself, I would work it over several sessions with saddle soap and neatsfoot oil. A smooth bottle will help. AND go ahead and make one. As you can see, it isn't complicated. This way if you get some NOS blades (Feathers don't respond well to stropping, nor will most modern blades) you can strop both on clean leather and pasted.

The old one might be beyond salvage but I think you can probably bring it back.

 

[zombiemann]

Found some saddle soap at Rural King this evening. After 1 good once over (it's drying/resting) as we speak, the difference is already night and day.

I honestly hadn't planned on using it for actual stropping. I just wanted to bring it up to a decent looking condition so it didn't stick out like a sore thumb from the rest of the set.

 

[zombiemann]

OK, it is a certainty that I won't be using it to strop with. There are some good sized gouges/cracks in it. It still looks one hell of a lot better

 

[Mr. Flay]

Yup that's a beauty. Inspires me to get to work on the pile of them I have...

 

[Luc]

The leather looks much better, nice! If you add a conditioner to nourish the leather, it will look like an almost new one.