PAM508 rep strap experiment

[psychoyam]

So, I got a 508 and the only thing that really bothered me was the rep strap. I don't know if it was just mine, but it was grainy, hard, stiff and everytime I wore it, it peeled away. It didn't felt like leather at all. Even my Canal St. cheapsters had better straps.

Anyways, I was going to order another strap, but then I decided to play with that one. So, I remembered my wife used coconut oil on her leather bags to "break them in" and darken them a bit, so what the hell, let's coconut oil the crap out of it!

So I applied the coconut oil, while scrubbing away the flimsy, shiny top coating. I then left it overnight to absorb the oils, then took it outside for a couple of hours of sun. I repeated this 2 times.

I don't have before pics, but the end result is, at least for me, a thousand times better than the original. Now it is soooo soft, feels like real leather and doesn't peel away everytime I put it on. Even though the look is more like suede, I really like it a lot now. It even feels and look a bit vintagy to me! And no, it doesn't smells like coconut!

Here are the pics...

 

[evilpenguin]

Very interesting. I may have to try this with mine as well. Thanks for the tip!

 

[paulvillo]

Wow! That happened to the cracked leather rep strap? I mean, did coconut oil get rid of them cracks?


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[psychoyam]

Wow! That happened to the cracked leather rep strap? I mean, did coconut oil get rid of them cracks?


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Well, the coconut oil softens and darkens the leather. I used a small metallic toothbrush and while it was covered in coconut oil, I'll scrape and brushed away that top grainy, cracked coat. Just be careful when scraping not to hit too much the stitches. Then remove all the peeled off bits and apply more coconut oil and let to absorb overnight. Repeat until satisfied. I didn't cared too much for the underside, so it still has some of that cracked coat, but still now it's so very soft and smooth because of the coconut oil. I'm guessing maybe with just the coconut oil it'll soften it up and no scraping would be necessary, so who knows.

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[psychoyam]

Oh, another thing I did was to massage the leather for 5-10 minutes with every oil treatment. Just roll the strap up and down with your fingersband bend it just to open up the leather fibers so it can absorb the oil.

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[Knifemaker]

WOW!. That really does look a whole lot better. Congrats on trying something new, and it working out Very Well.

 

[ALE7575]

That looks like an interesting system

ALE

 

[psychoyam]

WOW!. That really does look a whole lot better. Congrats on trying something new, and it working out Very Well.

Thanks Knife! I had no idea how they were going to turn out, but thought that couldn't be worse than they already were.

Glad to help!

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[paulvillo]

Oh, another thing I did was to massage the leather for 5-10 minutes with every oil treatment. Just roll the strap up and down with your fingersband bend it just to open up the leather fibers so it can absorb the oil.

Well, the coconut oil softens and darkens the leather. I used a small metallic toothbrush and while it was covered in coconut oil, I'll scrape and brushed away that top grainy, cracked coat. Just be careful when scraping not to hit too much the stitches. Then remove all the peeled off bits and apply more coconut oil and let to absorb overnight. Repeat until satisfied. I didn't cared too much for the underside, so it still has some of that cracked coat, but still now it's so very soft and smooth because of the coconut oil. I'm guessing maybe with just the coconut oil it'll soften it up and no scraping would be necessary, so who knows.

You read my mind, was going to ask about the underside
Thanks for sharing, might give it a try anytime soon, I do like the looks of the cracked leather but just can't stand the rep's cheap look and feel..
Well done mate!

 

[psychoyam]

You read my mind, was going to ask about the underside
Thanks for sharing, might give it a try anytime soon, I do like the looks of the cracked leather but just can't stand the rep's cheap look and feel..
Well done mate!

I liked the cracked look also, but never thought it could be salvaged, so that's why I scrubbed the crap out of it. But on hindsight, I would've first tried just the coconut oil and massaging the strap and if that wasn't satisfactory, then proceed to scrub.

Here are some underside pics to compare

Hmmmm...pics not loading from app... it says Processing but nothing happens... I'll upload from desktop then

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[psychoyam]

Ok, here they are...



Underside gained a shiny-oily look, but feels super soft - not grainy or oily


The keepers surprisingly, gained the optimal effect I think... cracked looked, not shiny... I only treated them once and didn't scrub much

 

[reckoner777]

Definitely going to give this a try.

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[Thrasher]

Gotta try this on my 569 strap, which isnt half bad and even fits my big wrist!

 

[Nikoteen]

Never give up on that old leather man.... Give it some ruff n tumble etc voila... Congratulations it looks great!

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[psychoyam]

Thanks for all the support guys!!

My next step was to try and lighten the color a bit, but my wife wouldn't let me!! She says I've already have other lighter colored straps, but none deep brown (which is true) but I think she just want to wear it like that!!

Oh, and another thing. I used Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. I don't know if the result will vary with other types or whatever of coconut oil, but just in case...

 

[voxx]

I did the same thing but with another method .. I used lacquer thinner to remove the plastic-ky outer layer and underneath I found a decent leather strap.I then put a nice medium brown shoe wax on it .
The outer coating used to get a cracked vintage look is what makes some of these rep straps look so bad but once that is removed you may find a nice plain leather strap underneath.

 

[paulvillo]

Ok, here they are...
Underside gained a shiny-oily look, but feels super soft - not grainy or oily

The keepers surprisingly, gained the optimal effect I think... cracked looked, not shiny... I only treated them once and didn't scrub much

Gotta agree with you on that mate!
Thanks for the pics, will give this a try anytime soon.
Just wondering if Coconut oil is any better than baby or even leather oils :thinking:

 

[Etron]

Any of your know of a distressed (cracked) strap from another source that's like the gen PAM? Considering it for PAM389

Sounds like the rep version isn't usable as is

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[psychoyam]

Gotta agree with you on that mate!
Thanks for the pics, will give this a try anytime soon.
Just wondering if Coconut oil is any better than baby or even leather oils :thinking:

I would guess that leather oils should be best...there's some of them that won't even darken the leather... I was just being mega lazy and just using what had available at hand

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[Thrasher]

Last night I took some lexiol and a wire brush to my 569 strap then more lexiol and ground it into the concrete of our driveway, 1927 driveway so pretty rough, It turned out pretty great, first ever rep strap to fit my big wrist. Pictures in a minute.

This is probably the best before picture I have.

And after.