Thread: Old strop - is it usable

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!