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.