Thread: Illinois #208

Just got my strop today, so I can finally shave agian... but when I was in chat i remeber someone saying that i had to condition it with neets foot oil.... how do I do this, and how to I do this without ruining the linen?? thanks so much!

-CS

If its new I would think that this is not necessary, but in time as the leather starts to dry out it will become necessary. Try it as is.

thanks, how will i know when its dry?

There is some info on treating in the Wiki section: Strop treatment - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Here's an excerpt from it:

Tony Miller of http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com recommends that the strop is not treated with any conditioner unless you are certain that that is what you want to do. Instead he recommends that the strop is rubbed by hand a couple of times a day and the natural oils from the palm serve as conditioner.

Originally Posted by climberslacker

thanks, how will i know when its dry?

It will start to stiffen, this takes a long time to happen and I wouldnt think it would be an issue right now, unless of course it is in direct sunlight or is subjected to some other heat source.

I have the exact same strop, and when i recieved it, conditioned the leather side with some baseball glove oil. I drizzled some on and rubbed it in until it stopped abosrbing the oil readily. It was about three conditionings. Then i did it again once a-day for two days. The strop became softer, darker, and much less "nickable". I definately recommend rubbbing some oil into the strop. You won't ruin the linen side if you take it apart, lay the leather side on a table, and condition it that way, and then putting them back together when finished.

NO OIL! Use the strop as it is as has already been advised.

PuFF

why no oil??

Whats wrong with the natural oils of the hide as well as the tanning oils already present in the leather?

idk what im talking about, I am just trying to learn, and when someone just says "no oil", i like to know why