- 9/12/18
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I'll admit to being a bit of a strap snob who typically discards rep straps immediately, however there have been a few that are quite nice. I thought I'd share my technique for turning a mediocre rep strap into a perfectly wearable one.
One strap in particular was the light tan 26/22mm strap that came on my SF 690 V2. While the leather was stiff and lifeless, the stitching and stamped logos were nicely done so I spent about 30 minutes to transform it.
Starting point - cheap Chinese cardboard leather:
Step 2 - squeezing the shit out of the straps to soften and create structure / texture. I use these trigger clamps to pinch the straps as firmly as possible & leave them for 5 minutes each time:
Here you can see some texture now formed in the leather. What you can't see is that the process significantly softened the straps:
Step 3 - Tokonole treatment. Tokonole is a leather burnishing cream that was recommended to me by Cordes that really transforms the finish of the leather. I'm not a fan of the frayed edges look that you see on many of the vintage style straps and the Tokonole smoothes the leather into a much more finished surface. Very easy to apply - just dip your finger, apply it evenly (I do the edges first) and rub it into the leather fully. Below you can see the long strap has been treated while the short strap is still raw - it does slightly darken the leather.
Daylight:
And all finished - note the nice luster created by the Tokonole:
And.... Straight back on the Bosphorus. I said I was a strap snob.
BTW - the Bosphorus also received the Tokonole treatment.
One strap in particular was the light tan 26/22mm strap that came on my SF 690 V2. While the leather was stiff and lifeless, the stitching and stamped logos were nicely done so I spent about 30 minutes to transform it.
Starting point - cheap Chinese cardboard leather:
Step 2 - squeezing the shit out of the straps to soften and create structure / texture. I use these trigger clamps to pinch the straps as firmly as possible & leave them for 5 minutes each time:
Here you can see some texture now formed in the leather. What you can't see is that the process significantly softened the straps:
Step 3 - Tokonole treatment. Tokonole is a leather burnishing cream that was recommended to me by Cordes that really transforms the finish of the leather. I'm not a fan of the frayed edges look that you see on many of the vintage style straps and the Tokonole smoothes the leather into a much more finished surface. Very easy to apply - just dip your finger, apply it evenly (I do the edges first) and rub it into the leather fully. Below you can see the long strap has been treated while the short strap is still raw - it does slightly darken the leather.
Daylight:
And all finished - note the nice luster created by the Tokonole:
And.... Straight back on the Bosphorus. I said I was a strap snob.
BTW - the Bosphorus also received the Tokonole treatment.
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