Thread: Newbie looking for Strop advice

Originally Posted by Hayesky

Do regular strops have to be oiled or loosened up in any way before use? I bought a strop from amazon and its quite stiff.

The two main reasons for oiling leather are preservation and to increase it's water resistance.

The fibers in leather can break down over time...a process which is accelerated by heat and humidity (both high and low). Oiling keeps the leather supple and works to prevent the fiber breakdown.

Most strops come from the manufacturer ready to use and under normal heat/humidity conditions probably only need a very light application of oil once or at most twice a year.

If your new strop is very stiff and looks and feels dry then by all means oil it...but don't go overboard. I'm partial to Lexol products...they make a great cleaner and a conditioner that are inexpensive, are specifically formulated for leather, and if you follow the directions it's pretty hard to overdo it.

Pure Neetsfoot is the best I have found to use on strops. Just make sure it is pure that are a lot out there they say neatsfoot but they have additives.
The other thing that really helps the life and draw is before and after to give it a good palm rub till your palm gets hot.