A new strop, Help please

dc50

dc50

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Aug 14, 2006
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Just received a new double sided strop from Lee Valley tools.
I've been using an old belt glued to a paint stick for a couple of years,and thought it's time to upgrade :p

I am having a problem loading the green compound, the leather seems slick,
and the compound just won't grab on to the leather. All I can get is strips of compound on the strop. I tried cleaning off what I did get on, with steel wool.
Tried applying again.Its still not working, any suggestions would be appreciated.:confused:
 
I make custom strops and to alleviate that problem I do a couple of things. Because the leather can have residual natural oils in the hide I sometimes clean it with isopropyl alcohol a few time which dries up the oil and you can rough it up a bit with 400 grit sand paper as well. The other natural remedy is to let it sit in the sun for a spell.

Also, apply the compound very lightly and strop it in and repeat a number of times. Strops are like baseball gloves, They need to break in.

Good Luck
 
I just heat the leather up with a lighter before rubbing it in and it works great. You can also apply heat to the compound as well.
 
Call me strange if you will but ...

I also have a double sided strop. One side is a "course" grain (relatively speaking) and the other is a finer grain for finishing. I do not use any compound on this. I use it much the same way as barbers did in the old days with their cutthroat razors. My Sebenza is like a scalpel.
 
Thanks a lot fellas! I now have a bunch of options to try, fantastic.
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I scrape off some compound into a old tin put in a little olive oil and heat until the compound melts, use what you need and cover the tin, stays soft for ages.

Richard
 
I use the sandpaper method. Be sure to use a sanding block as well.

Be careful with the WD40 because it will also degrade the glue if it soaks too far into it.
 
I use the sandpaper method. Be sure to use a sanding block as well.

Be careful with the WD40 because it will also degrade the glue if it soaks too far into it.
 
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