deux jambes

I wouldn’t mind reviving these Alfredo Binda laminated straps and squeezing a few miles out of ‘em if possible.

The leather is dingy, stained, dry, and warped. The buckles are rusty. I’d like to clean ‘em up, arrest the rust, and reintroduce some suppleness.

Oxalic acid. Vinegar. Both are effective rust treatments. And I understand that each can be used to clean leather as well, though not without drying it out. That doesn’t worry me since I’d be applying a conditioner anyhow.

I do wonder how the glue between laminated will hold up to OA or vinegar.

I’m tempted to submerge the straps in a solution of either OA or Vinegar for a good overnight soak, lay ‘em out flat to dry, and if all goes well enough, buy some conditioner to finish them with.

What about you all? Ever take on a similar project? What’d you do? How’d it go? What would you recommend?

clubman 

I was looking at old straps last week wondering the same thing. Mikashima's, Lapize, Christophe. I'm following.

bulgie 

I like the Leather Therapy brand. I use their "Wash" to clean them, then the "Restorer and Conditioner". Apparently it gets used on a lot of expensive horse saddles and other tack, as well as Ferrari leather interiors and such. Rich guy toys. On bike saddles, toe straps etc, a little goes a long way. Try the smaller bottle at first, to see if you like it.

For rust on the buckles (or any rusty bike parts), you can't beat Evaporust. It's not an acid -- I can't tell you how it works other than it's sorta like magic, and never harms the steel even if you forget and leave it in for a couple days. Maybe electrolysis can match it, never tried it but I hear it also gets described as "like magic". It's a lot more trouble though. So let's just say you won't beat Evaporust for the combo of effectiveness and ease of use.

Ah, here's a guy who compared electrolysis to Evaporust and he found them to be right about the same, which to me means Evaporust is the clear winner, for ease of use, and greater safety. Watch the youtube for more details:
I did the Leather Therapy two-part treatment plus Evaporust "regimen" on some old Paturaud straps. I got 'em cheap 'cuz they were so ugly, and now they look great. Paturaud straps are very sought-after by the people who like old French bikes, especially Japanese collectors, who bid the prices up to insane levels for items in good condition. So I saved me some $$ for this old Frenchie I'm restoring.

Note, the leather restorer will darken the color some, so skip that if you can't live with darkening. It restores suppleness and probably makes the leather last longer, but I can't say for sure that it won't cause delamination on your laminated straps. I can imagine that oils or waxes in the leather could weaken the glue bond that holds the leather and the plastic inner layer together. I have seen plenty of laminated straps that delaminated even without leather restorer, so that's why I usually steer clear of laminated straps. They were the top of the line BITD though, and stiffer (so you massively steroided quad-monsters don't pull out in the sprint). So I can see trying to keep yours going as long as you can.

My guess is just washing with Leather Therapy Wash will be OK even on laminated straps, and it doesn't darken the leather.

Mark B in Seattle

SurferRosa

I use naval jelly on the metal for 10ish minutes. Warm water and detergent scrub/bath. Dry. Condition with whatever ya got.

merziac

Being laminated those straps are a different animal, I wouldn't soak them in anything being this old and still hanging in, they are usually delaminating by now and crumbling.

I carefully and very lightly massage straps to get them on MKS with tight holes with Langlitz leather dressing that I also use on Brooks saddles. Maybe this could help but I would proceed with extreme caution to preserve these.

Maybe scrub the buckles carefully

79pmooney

I wouldn't soak them. I'd just rub in either Snow Seal (beeswax dressing) or the newer, I believe German made, dressing that my cobbler recommended. Both work well. (I'd use either of those dressings on those straps brand new; just a little less.)

Ben

cleroica

Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich.

Road Fan

I've proofided them in the past.

Road Fan

Ben, can you dig out the name of the German cobbler stuff?

bulgie 

I'm not Ben, but I wonder if he meant Obenauf's. I've heard good things about it from people I trust. They have a "system" that includes a cleaner and a restorer/conditioner.

Mark B

aland2

I've used neatsfoot oil in the past but they will go too soft if you over do it. I'd try the cheap leather cleaner stuff from the supermarket or just lots of saddle soap.

Piff 

Not to derail the thread, but does anyone have a good recommendation for nylon toe straps? My leather ones have just about had it.

Spaghetti Legs 

Obenauf’s is what I was going to suggest. Good stuff. I’ve used it to rehab a really worn out Turbo saddle and use it to freshen up other leather saddles. I think it would do the trick on toe straps. I don’t think any kind of acid treatment would be a good idea.

79pmooney

The dressing is Obenaufs Heavy Duty LP (from the old German state of Idaho). But the cobbler who turned me on to it is German (I believe) and could be almost as old. (I'm having fun with him, but he is very good and has modified traditional cleated shoes for me to be be walkable. Also kept my favorite dress shoes going for 20 years and multiple re-soles.

Ben

3alarmer 

...the best recent ones are the ones made in neon colors by Pake, called Space Straps. They're no longer in production, but sometimes you can find NOS remnants on e-bay. Ben's Cycle was selling some for a while.
AFAIK, noboooooody is making a decently stiff braided nylon toe strap right now. Everything I've seen or tried is as limp as a wet noodle.

Piff 

Thanks for the heads up!

Also...dear lord what leather are these made out of? $99 toe straps...

https://www.benscycle.com/cinellibin...63-104/product

deux jambes

I don’t know if Mikashima makes theirs current version to the same specs or standards, but I purchased a pair of NOS MKS “Fit-A-First” straps from my LBS.

Pretty robust around 1/8” thick. They hold their shape really well. They’re what I’d call a stiff strap. Foot slides right on in without and goofy hang ups ever. And while a button would help keep mine tidier looking, I’ve never had any issues with the tag end pulling out of the buckle.

deux jambes

Lots of food for thought here folks. Much appreciated from all of you.

One thing is certain, you’ve convinced me to refrain from soaking these Bindas. I’m not sure exactly how I’m going to approach the cleaning, rehydrating, and rust yet, but I’ll be looking forward posting back with results once done.