• Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!

Strap Freaks!!!

up_right

I'm Pretty Popular
27/1/17
1,810
569
113
Spain
Small details...

Polishing the edges of your brushed buckles adds an extra dimension of finish and goes well with Panerai cases that combine brushed and polished surfaces. It only takes 20 minutes with a dremel and some good quality compound.







So you are using the felt Dremel bit with polishing rouge?

I usually use sandpaper... will try next time with the Dremel.

The inside edge of the buckles is especially so dangerous to the strap!
 

Woundup

YNWA
Patron
Certified
9/12/18
2,366
9,459
113
So you are using the felt Dremel bit with polishing rouge?

I usually use sandpaper... will try next time with the Dremel.

The inside edge of the buckles is especially so dangerous to the strap!

Correct - I have a few different shapes of the felt Dremel bits to do the hard polishing and then finish off with the cloth buffing wheel.

For the inside edges I steal my girlfriends nail file thing... :cool:

 
  • Like
Reactions: al358 and up_right

up_right

I'm Pretty Popular
27/1/17
1,810
569
113
Spain
Correct - I have a few different shapes of the felt Dremel bits to do the hard polishing and then finish off with the cloth buffing wheel.

For the inside edges I steal my girlfriends nail file thing... :cool:

The trusty ol'emery stick saves the day yet again.
 

RepIseek

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
7/1/20
564
977
93
Texas
New to me XL Swords strap on 312. I love these long straps and gpf buckles!

zG11xp.jpg

zG1yXb.jpg

zG1YIi.jpg

zG1OZX.jpg
 

Woundup

YNWA
Patron
Certified
9/12/18
2,366
9,459
113
Another DHL delivery day from Cordes.

L>R
Buckle repair on my early Kostas vintage, dark olive Horween cxl, 'killer' vintage Gustav ammo, dark red dyed Gustav ammo, Carlo Badalassi, butter Horween, 'virgin' Gustav ammo pre-v style



 

Woundup

YNWA
Patron
Certified
9/12/18
2,366
9,459
113
A couple more arrived today from Lim Kok Peng (M75) in Kuala Lumpur. One light grey croc 26mm and one custom painted / distressed calf leather with dark grey stitching for my 44m Ti's. I spec'd both with his uniquely shaped sewn in buckle with the M75 logo.




 
Last edited:

RepIseek

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
7/1/20
564
977
93
Texas
Another DHL delivery day from Cordes.

L>R
Buckle repair on my early Kostas vintage, dark olive Horween cxl, 'killer' vintage Gustav ammo, dark red dyed Gustav ammo, Carlo Badalassi, butter Horween, 'virgin' Gustav ammo pre-v style



The color of the dark olive Horween and the Badalassi are amazing!
 

RepIseek

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
7/1/20
564
977
93
Texas
Looks great! That strap length is definitely not long for your wrist. What is your wrist size? 19.5cm? The strap is 155/85mm if I remember...
Thank you, pretty close! 19.5-20cm ish. And it really does fit perfect!
 
  • Like
Reactions: up_right

Woundup

YNWA
Patron
Certified
9/12/18
2,366
9,459
113
Once in a while a strap arrives that doesn't meet expectations - however I will say that 90% of the time I've been completely happy.

I recently ordered a couple of custom straps from Kok Peng Lim as I love his technique. One of the straps is a medium grey crocodile - I had seen a couple of similar straps on his instagram feed & thought they looked amazing. Anyway when it arrived I was surprised that the strap had a gloss finish, rather than the mat / low sheen finish I had expected. Quite ugly actually and I knew I'd never wear it even though the strap itself is beautifully made and finished.

So I decided to take out the scotch brite pads and see if I could knock off the gloss... Note that it's really important to tape off the stitching and edge coat as the abrasive pad will damage both. I also made sure to brush the pad in a single direction and was careful to bend the strap to get into the grain between scale sections.

20 minutes later and the result is amazing IMO - the gator has taken on a very unique marble like finish with a significantly lighter colour tone.