Is this strop ruined?

Chimensch · 07-11-2008, 08:20 AM

This is a new Illinois Imperial Russia handing strop after three months of, now I understand, too heavy stropping. About half of the surface is visibly roughened. Is this strop ruined? Still usable? Savable?

syslight · 07-11-2008, 08:30 AM

wow!

you will need a little work to get that back into fighting shape. search here for reconditioning vintage strop instructions...it looks like you will need some pumice and neats foot or mink oil to get that back in forum ... "the bigspendur " has some strop reconditioning tips around here somewhere.

Doc · 07-11-2008, 08:47 AM

if that's the strop whats the razor look like?

Chimensch · 07-11-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc

if that's the strop whats the razor look like?

Forget what the razor looks like ... what about my face?

Stagga100 · 07-11-2008, 01:10 PM

I personally don't think it looks that bad!! Not as bad as what you're making it out to be.

I have an Illinois 827 and when I first bought it it was stiff, waxy and waaaaaay to rough! I pm'd Josh Earl (who was very helpful and understanding) and he recommended I rub a pumice stone over it using light pressue, then making a stiff lather from a quality shave soap (I used Mitchells Wool Fat soap) and rub it into the strop using a flat sided glass or bottle. Wipe off excess lather with a clean damp cloth and leave to dry for about 24hours. Repeat this 2 or 3 times and you will get a surface that feels like velvet and is my best strop surface out of the lot!

Hope this helps!

Rick

Chimensch · 07-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stagga100

I personally don't think it looks that bad!! Not as bad as what you're making it out to be.

Yes ... I'm sure I'm overreacting but you can understand how frustrating it is trying to put it all together. I've had the shaving part down for a long time and then I discovered SRP in April and it has forced me to reevaluate how I do everything else ... not to mention the economic impact of RAD! When I realized that I was stropping way too heavily, I thought Oh No!, now I have to buy another strop!

Tony Miller · 07-11-2008, 01:58 PM

The Illinois 827 uses the reverse side of the hide which will always have a rough surface compared to the skin side most makers use. There are quite a few posts here on how to condition and smooth an 827 so it has a smooth surface. i of course always wonder why not buy the Illinois 127 instead which is the identical strop with the smooth side out. Very little is needed to use that one.

Tony

Chimensch · 07-11-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

The Illinois 827 uses the reverse side of the hide which will always have a rough surface compared to the skin side most makers use. There are quite a few posts here on how to condition and smooth an 827 so it has a smooth surface. i of course always wonder why not buy the Illinois 127 instead which is the identical strop with the smooth side out. Very little is needed to use that one.

Tony

I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying. Is it OK to use it as is, or does it need to be smoothed?

nun2sharp · 07-11-2008, 03:50 PM

Even if youve stropped half the life out of it , youve still got half to go. Condition it and go with it. Alittle pumice and some neats foot oil should do the trick.

JMS · 07-11-2008, 04:31 PM

That looks typical of an 827! Maybe Honedright will chime in!? I think it looks ok!

PuFFaH · 07-11-2008, 04:34 PM

Looks like the surface finish the maker put on has started to wear off. This is normal and this finish is really only intended to hold the strop in makers condition till it's sold. It has no bearing on the strop quality or ability.
Condition it with some saddle soap mixed to a very thick lather and leave till dry, then buff with the palm of your hand till smooth. You can use the pumice method as described before to get the same texture over the whole strop. This will remove the makers coating and smooth out the surface to a uniform texture. Because it is a Russian style leather, I would recommend you don't use oils on it but soap alone for conditioning. This is only my preference as I have found the soap produces a good draw and lubricant stopping the course nap being lifted.

PuFF

Stagga100 · 07-11-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

Because it is a Russian style leather, I would recommend you don't use oils on it but soap alone for conditioning. This is only my preference as I have found the soap produces a good draw and lubricant stopping the course nap being lifted.

PuFF

+ 1. Me too!!!

Tony Miller · 07-11-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimensch

I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying. Is it OK to use it as is, or does it need to be smoothed?

I was just saying this is normal for an 827... a naturally rough finish that gets slightly rougher as it wears in. My point was that many guys put a lot of effort into making the 827 smooth when they may have been better with a 127. You choose (or not choose) the 827 because of this texture, not to make it into something it is not.

I used to sell Illinois strops and often paired a127 leather with an 827 leather on the same hanger. the 827 was left rough for initial stropping, the 127 being smooth was nice for finish stropping. It is fine the way it is.

Tony

poona · 07-11-2008, 06:01 PM

You gotta take the rough with the smooth...

sicboater · 07-11-2008, 07:10 PM

+1 on it looking normal. Maybe a little (very little bit) dry and in need of conditioning. My 827 is still my go to strop, I really like the draw. I wouldn't pumice it unless it is ruining blades, but I don't think it would be. The rough texture has a great draw as I said and I find I like it better for heavier blades as I feel more control over the stropping.

My vote is for a little neat's foot oil lovin'.

Keep us posted!

Utopian · 07-14-2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimensch

Forget what the razor looks like ... what about my face?

Maybe a little neats foot will help that as well!

Basher052 · 07-15-2008, 09:47 PM

I bought some strop dressing at a knife shop here in Houston, I think its Dovo. Its a little tube with a yellow band around the outside. Would this be better, or worse (than neatsfoot oil) for a vintage strop? I have a older one that is dry, and has a few nicks in it, but otherwise, its a decent strop with a cloth back.

johnny_angel · 07-22-2008, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basher052

I bought some strop dressing at a knife shop here in Houston, I think its Dovo. Its a little tube with a yellow band around the outside.

That's the Dovo strop dressing. Basically a treated fat that won't go rancid. I love the draw I get from the stuff, but as with most dressings use way less than you think you need.

Based on the photo and your description the strop is fine. It's no less "ruined" than when you first got it. It just needs to be smoothed a bit and evened out as described in the other posts.