Greetings all,

I now have all the equipment, as follows;

Wade & Butcher 6/8 medium hollow shave ready razor (restored antique)
Silver Tip Badger Brush
5" horn bowl
Taylor of Old Bond Street hard soap (Sandlewood)
Taylor of Old Bond Street Cream (Alvocado)
Pre-Shave oil
After-Shave
Styptic gel
Styptic pencil
Alum block
3" wide leather strop with canvas
Neatsfoot Oil
Strop dressing/compound
Williams Mug Shaving Soap (intended for strop)
Norton 4000/8000 waterstone
Naniwa 12,000 Super Stone
Norton Lapping stone
etc, etc, etc.

I intend to perform my first straight shave tomorrow, however. I have a question about the strop. It's brand spanking new, American grown/made Cowhide. Do I need to treat the strop with Neatsfoot, or Williams, or anything else prior to its first use, or just use it as is without any pre-treatment? Please explain why I should, or maybe should 'not' pre-treat my new strop. I'll truly appreciate all input on this!