Using the other side of the linen?

Leon · 08-27-2008, 03:56 PM

Hi gents.

I'm the proud owner of a 3'' wide TM strop. It has leather on one side (obviously) and a linen canvas behind it. The strop has some bolts that provide an easy disassembly of all its pieces. The linen part is slightly dirty, so I wanted to ask you if anyone has used the other side of the linen and if this is OK to use.
The only difference between these 2 sides of linen is that the "backside" looks exactly like the front but has some stitching along the edge of linen. Will this harm the razor?

Thanks

Tony Miller · 08-28-2008, 12:00 AM

The two sides are basically identical. The "stitching" is not stitching actually, it is a thread of a different color woven in just like all the others and is a trade designation for a 2 ply webbing of a particular weave. Other colors reprsent different types of weaves/plys.

Some strops I sell will have the brown stripe outermost, others innermost depending on how flat the material lays. If you look closely one edge is rounded and one looks stitched. It is always best to have the spine towards the rounded edge to prevent fraying if you plan to flip the cloth side around.

Tony

Leon · 08-28-2008, 12:21 AM

Thanks, Tony

Leon · 08-28-2008, 09:13 AM

By the way, Can the linen canvas be removed and washed in some way?

Thanks

Tony Miller · 08-28-2008, 02:12 PM

I would worry that the cloth will shrink if washed and then be way too short.

Tony

JimmyHAD · 08-28-2008, 03:21 PM

Leon, my linen became 'dirty' from the blades being stropped. I think any linen strop will begin to color as it is used and if this is what you are seeing it shouldn't be a problem.

Leon · 08-28-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

Leon, my linen became 'dirty' from the blades being stropped. I think any linen strop will begin to color as it is used and if this is what you are seeing it shouldn't be a problem.

Hi Jimmy, yes, the linen will begin to color due to the use, but other than that I think that it may be some CrO that was carried by the razor edge after being stroped on my CrO-pasted paddle strop. So now I have a problem, since what I've read here is that CrO being a compound it doesn't wash off easily. But again, I don't know if this is what is on the linen canvas, maybe a combination of metal particles of my razor edges and some dust from CrO... What a mess!

Well, I'll try to wash the linen.

JimmyHAD · 08-28-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Hi Jimmy, yes, the linen will begin to color due to the use, but other than that I think that it may be some CrO that was carried by the razor edge after being stroped on my CrO-pasted paddle strop. So now I have a problem, since what I've read here is that CrO being a compound it doesn't wash off easily. But again, I don't know if this is what is on the linen canvas, maybe a combination of metal particles of my razor edges and some dust from CrO... What a mess!

Well, I'll try to wash the linen.

Not being able to see it I can't be sure of how bad it is. If it was me I would just strop the razors and let it eventually wear off by itself. A little CrO won't hurt anything.

fpessanha · 08-28-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Hi Jimmy, yes, the linen will begin to color due to the use, but other than that I think that it may be some CrO that was carried by the razor edge after being stroped on my CrO-pasted paddle strop. So now I have a problem, since what I've read here is that CrO being a compound it doesn't wash off easily. But again, I don't know if this is what is on the linen canvas, maybe a combination of metal particles of my razor edges and some dust from CrO... What a mess!

Well, I'll try to wash the linen.

Hi, Leon!

Sometime ago the linnen side of my Dovo strop - non removable - got a bit dirty too. I managed to clean it using a lot of caution not to wet the leather part of the strop. I used a lot of caution, warm water and some "blue soap", that is, a normal soap meant to be used on clothes. I hope this helps...

Utopian · 09-01-2008, 10:57 PM

I've cleaned my linen and canvas strops just by laying it out an a table and scrubbing it with a damp wash cloth. This removed surface crap without getting it wet enough to do any harm.

Bart · 09-01-2008, 11:30 PM

If you decide to wash it, wash it with cold water. You could even soak it in cold water with a bit of mild soap. Cold water will not make it shrink.

Bart.

Tony Miller · 09-02-2008, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart

If you decide to wash it, wash it with cold water. You could even soak it in cold water with a bit of mild soap. Cold water will not make it shrink.

Bart.

Your mileage may vary <g>

Bart · 09-02-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Your mileage may vary <g>

By all means, Leon, listen to Tony.
I've only washed jeans and T-shirts and other clothes in cold water, to prevent shrinkage. It never failed me, but if Tony implies that this may not be true for linen strops...

Bart.

Leon · 09-03-2008, 11:56 PM

I'll give it a try .

Thank you all

DavidM · 11-20-2008, 08:37 PM

Well I would not do it with a TM strop, but my Dovo got quite dirty. I washed it with ivory soap and it did shrink. I had to lay it down and put weight on it, and then really pulled it back into position. I would probably never do it again, but the strop seems fine and even took out the TI white paste.

StraightRazorDave · 11-21-2008, 04:42 AM

Although I've never tried it myself, I've heard of some people using waterless hand cleaners on their strop. Perhaps this would reduce the side effects (i.e. possible shrinkage) of using water? Remember, I've NEVER tried this, so don't think it's good advice, just throwing some ideas out there!

Dave