Hi everyone! I bought my first strop on ebay for about $8, advertised as new but, as you can see, it has a few dings on it. Are those anything to be concerned about? It also seems to be kind of dry, and it's curled a bit; like the tongue on a shoe. Not quite that severe, but you see what I mean. What do I need to do to bring it back up to snuff? Thanks again! -Duane.
Looks like a pretty thick/heavy strop. Dorko is a quality name for straight razors, so I'd think the same of the strop. The nick is probably nothing to fret over, unless it causes problems during stropping. Most likely, you'll strop right over it, and not notice it when doing so. If you do, you can take a pumice stone or some high-grit wet/dry sandpaper to smooth it out. Just be careful to blen i in, so you don;t develop a thin spot or divot in the leather. For the curling, you can try to apply some leather conditioner, and then press it flat with something for a period of time -- like stacking heavy books on it. After that, wipe off any excess conditioner, and let it dry for a couple of days. Finally, rub the strop periodically with your hand to keep it conditioned, and prevent further cupping. One other trick you can try is to rub a glass jar over the surface to burnish it, and give it a smooth finish. You may want to contact a couple of the strop vendors as well: Tony Miller-- http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/ Kenrup-- http://www.ruprazor.com/store/index.php Damon-- http://members.cox.net/graphixjedi/ProformaStrops.html
Thanks for the reply Chris! I'll have to look into it in a few days as I'll be away for the weekend. I assume I can get leather conditioner just about anywhere? There is a scrape/divot in the middle, but it's not too deep.. about half an inch long and no wider than a dime. I think you can see it in the second picture, on the right. Is it anything to worry about or should I just leave it and see how it works out? Thanks again! -Duane.
Duane, The conditioner should be readily available at say a shoe shop; neatsfoot oil is another good option without looking for a specific product. The scrape/divot in the middle should be treated the same as any others. If you're not noticing it during stropping, then it's most likely alright; otherwise, lightly sand it to reduce it. Good luck!
Hi Chris, I'll keep my eye out for some leather conditioner and see what I can do with the curl. Thanks again!
