Thread: dry strop after saddle soap cleaning

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Is it a buildup you are seeing, or is the surface being scuffed? I get scuffing on my strops, as per my other thread.

buildup for sure. what these guys are describing hits it on the nose. I do have an evil geneva cutlery razor that slashes up any strop it touches, but I've retired that little bastard.

......and no, you may not put a thumbnotch on my strop.

I think the Red Latigo has more oil and wax on it than any of the other leathers I have seen used in strops. I really find that although there is not a break in period for stropping, there is a break in period to get through the oils and waxes. With hand rubbing every day in addition to stropping you can actually feel for lack of something better to call them, little pellets that come up from rubbing and then you can rub these off. Once through this layer so to speak, the strop is really set. I have used saddle soap in the past with pretty good results but always follow up with neatsfoot or mink oil really rubbed in.

Got a tip from a master leather guy the other day. He says if a strop is drying out, put neats foot on the underside as it is more fibrous and the oil will soak into the leather quicker. Can still put a little on the smooth side and rub it in, but best results on the rough or underside. Interesting.

Have fun,

Lynn

Got a tip from a master leather guy the other day. He says if a strop is drying out, put neats foot on the underside as it is more fibrous and the oil will soak into the leather quicker. Can still put a little on the smooth side and rub it in, but best results on the rough or underside. Interesting.

Very interesting indeed! I'll have to remember that...

- Scott

Originally Posted by mparker762

this

Also the reason the dryness has improved is the oils have seeped up from the lower levels of the strop. The saddle soap only really strips the oils from the thin upper layer. .

when I got home tonight I checked the strop and it is in nice shape now. ie the 12 hours from this morning (so now 24 hours from when I saldle soaped) were enough to allow the strop to re-oil itself. Very cool.

[QUOTE=mparker762;351585]

....


I use Williams mug soap to clean my strops FWIW. Seems to do a better job than saddle soap, and avoids having another specialty item around the house.[/QUOTE]

MP, how do you go about doing this? What are the mechanics? Thanks

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

MP, how do you go about doing this? What are the mechanics? Thanks

I use and old boar brush and lather the strop up like I'm gonna shave it, except making a thicker pasty lather to avoid getting too much water in the leather, and work it in for about a minute. Then wipe off with a damp cloth that's been fully wrung out, and let it dry overnight.