Thread: Leave it on or take it off?

So I have an Illinois #208 and have conditioned the leather with baseball glove oil. I usually strop at odd times of the day, i.e. whenever I feel like it, sometimes a day or two before I shave next. So after I strop, there appears to be a thin film of oil or oil residue left on the blade. I've been wiping it off after the stropping.

My question: Should I be wiping it off? Should I wipe it off right before my shave? Or should I not wipe it off at all?

Thanks in advance!

If it really bothers you, take a rag and rub the strop to remove the excess oil, or you could wait a couple of days to see if the strop will absorb it.

Use beeswax. Rub in and wipe off excess. Never had a problem.

Its just oil right? Might retard rust and other nastys.

Agree wipe off the extra.

Might help to warm the leather first before applying the oil.

The thing is, I treated the strop with oil back in december. It doesn't bother me at all, so if it will protect the blade, I'll leave it on until I shave, then wipe it off. There is does not appear to be any oil or oily residue on the strop. It just looks like well conditioned leather. But after I do my 50 laps on the leather, the blade has a little oil on it, but the strop does not. Either way works fine with me, it doesn't bother me either way on this one. Just wondering what would be recommended.

The reason the strop looks dry but the razor has oil on it is because the strop is oversaturated with oil. Like a sponge full of water. it may look damp but when you squeeze it water comes out so the pressure of the razor brings oil to the surface. it may eventually dry in depending on the type of oil it is. You can try blotting it up by pressing hard on the strop with some absorbent paper or material.

Is that bad for the strop? The strop seems fine. Its soft, dark, and seems less prone to nicking.

Probably not bad but you used way too much.

haha oops. how much oil is enough for conditioning?

Originally Posted by theworldover

haha oops. how much oil is enough for conditioning?

I think a good way to do it for a strop is get the thinnest coat possible on the heel of your palm and then rub the strop like you're stropping the heel of your hand. or get oil on your hand, wipe your hand off lightly with a rag and then rub it into the strop with your hand. Not much. and you should only need to condition it rarely, if ever? Don't know about the Illinois #208.

huh. I wonder why I was under the impression that I should condition the strop. seems to work fine, as my shaves are awesome.