Thread: What is in yellow strop paste

Here's something which is bugging me. I have been using a hanging strop for a few years now and I like using it. I condition my strop with paste from a little yellow tube, and it works. After a light, occasional, pasting the strop works well and I get a fantastic shave on demand.
However I would like to know what is in the strop paste. It could very easily be vaseline, or beef dripping, or even reconstituted vegetable oil. I have absolutely no idea and suspect that there is something I could use which is just as effective which does not come in a relatively expensive unlabelled 9g tube.
Your comments would be much appreciated

Funny, I've been wondering this myself, as my tube is just about to run out...

I always thought it was a clarified dripping or fat. I know what you mean about it resembling Vaseline though. It is good strop paste and I would like to know it's make-up too.

PuFF

<<<< What is in yellow strop paste ? >>>>

Ummm, yellow and some kind of paste <g>

It looks like a vaseline substance to me which ought to be fairly inert and not go rancid as some fats will.

Just a guess.

Tony

I agree it's a bit like vaseline but it does seem to be a bit less viscous. In a way it could be clarified fat but as the last comment suggested it may go off which could pose a bit of a health hazard. I guess we are no further forward. I'll try some vaseline on an old strop but my question still remains largely unanswered. Any other ideas?

Originally Posted by Practical Pete

I'll try some vaseline on an old strop but my question still remains largely unanswered. Any other ideas?

Could you tell us how that goes as I've been thinking about trying this? Cheers.

Tallow doesn't go off or in any way degrade with age. I use it a lot in my work (boatbuilder). Tallow is beef fat like old dripping, so I still would suggest that the yellow paste is a clarified fat. Vaseline is a petroleum distillate, which would make me wary of using it. There are many leather products out there worth investigating before you resort to vaseline.

PuFF

OK I'll hold back on the vaseline. I did try a light coating of olive oil a while back which resulted in a bad sharpening experience so I'll not try that again. I also noted from a comment made on another thread that Mink Oil may be an option. Anybody got an opinion about that?

Anyway I do feel as though this thread is moving in a positive way. So far it seems that clarified fat is winning so lard and dripping are possible strop conditioners.....

Originally Posted by Practical Pete

OK I'll hold back on the vaseline. I did try a light coating of olive oil a while back which resulted in a bad sharpening experience so I'll not try that again. I also noted from a comment made on another thread that Mink Oil may be an option. Anybody got an opinion about that?

Anyway I do feel as though this thread is moving in a positive way. So far it seems that clarified fat is winning so lard and dripping are possible strop conditioners.....

LOL I never said lard and dripping were an option

Mink oil, neatsfoot oil, lanolin etc are the only options I have tried and would attest too.

PuFF

I'm just a newbie so take it for what it's worth. I don't believe I would even think vaseline and leather in the same thought. No more than putting 10W-40W motor oil on the leather.

The suggestions for mink oil, or neatsfoot oil sound better and I seem to recall that Lynn mentions in his video that old time barbers used to use shaving lather.