Thread: Old strop - is it usable

Originally Posted by vanacres

Thanks for the replies.

From the context, I can guess, but to be sure, what do "worry" and "cruft" mean? I searched, but couldn't find an answer.

As far as I know, worry and cruft are common use words in the UK. Worry as in "strop with a razor you are not concerned with, to test the strop first, just in case".

cruft = crud... dirt.... pocket lint etc.

And yes, it appears you may have been a bit heavy with the oils, which would cause excessive draw.... just a few drops is all it needs normally.

Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by vanacres

Thanks for the replies.

From the context, I can guess, but to be sure, what do "worry" and "cruft" mean? I searched, but couldn't find an answer.

Worry: Has too many definitions so sorry for the confusion.
c : to touch or disturb something repeatedly
2.2 worry at Pull at or fiddle with repeatedly. ‘he began to worry at the knot in the cord’

I intended it to be rub and use the surface over and over until it has calmed down. Play with it.

Cruft:
1. Trash, debris, or other unwanted matter that accumulates over time.

I have a strop that has been acting up so I took it into the shower and worried it
with a toothbrush and soap, rinsing it to remove the cruft. I have one of those
Hones of unknown grit and have been worrying it with a bit of tile sometimes and
steel other times to polish the surface because the DMT I used to flatten it left
a terrible textured surface that micro chipped razors it might or might calm down
if I work/worry it enough. This is something my dad used to say. Fiddling with it
to get it apart or to fit.

I use Ballistol to treat all my strops & reall all my leather except suede. Also it is great for so many things in your shop. check it out a ballistol.com
What leather is it made of?
Slawman

I hope the original thread starter @vanacres see's this but it can help out anybody in a similar situation.
The method that worked for me was instead of newspaper(but similar) I used the packaging material that Chewy uses to ship their pet products. Sort of like a thin butcher paper. It is raw with no added colors and thinner than regular butcher paper. Crumpled up and rubbed on the strop for a few minutes, until I could not get any more oil off the strop.
Then with a cotton or microfiber cloth that is damp with plain water. I evenly applied the moisture on the strop(you can see it change color)until it was all the same color. You let it dry completly and repeat doing this (two to four times in my case) until you have your desired draw. Checking each time with your razor or hand but I found that the razor is a better indicator that you are done.
What I learned is that the water pushes the oil deeper in the leather. So it actually does two good thing in that it pushes the oil in deeper in the leather(or shell,horse hide, etc) making it more supple and give you the desired draw on the surface of your strop.
I found this method on accident from a saddle maker when I was asking him how to rejuvinate a old dry dog collar with thick leather that I could tell that the oil was sitting onthe top and not penatratig like how I thought it should. He told me to use a damp rag to push the oil in deeper to the middle and not sit on the surface making it a dust magnet. Worked like a charm.
On my first vintage strop I applied a little to much oil and I remebered about this method after trying a few others. I did this twice and found that the draw was less each time I did it until I got to a nice fast draw. Worked for me I hope it works for anyone in a similar situation!