Thread: restoring a strop?

When I restore old strops, I start with saddle soap. Once I feel that the strop is clean I'll closely look for dry rot, cracks, etc. If working the leather will not damage it, I'll work a little bit of Neatsfoot Oil into the leather then I'll run the strop back and forth over a counter top edge in a buffing manner. I do this on both sides until it becomes supple again. If there are glossy hard spots on the finish side, I'll use a pumice stone to break up the glaze. To get a traditional smooth leather draw, I'll roll a glass bottle over the finish side to give an even surface. If it is a Russian style (very rough) draw, I'll use 80grit sandpaper to work up the nap and then hit with foot oil again. If I think it would do better with a suede draw, I'll sand it with 150grit sandpaper and not oil it again. I think it's neat to put an old strop back into service again.