Thread: Mineral oil as a strop conditioner?

I would like to ask the question is mineral oil, also known as baby oil, any good as a strop conditioner? I am fairly certain that it doesn't have any short term adverse effects, because I have used it to soften some of my strops. But does anyone know of any long term adverse effects of using mineral oil?

My observations so far are that an old dry strop will absorb a lot of mineral oil and that it will turn to a darker colour.

I know many people would suggest that I use a product like Neatsfoot oil instead, but that is quite difficult to come across here in Bangkok. Where as mineral oil sold as baby oil is plentiful.

I use mineral oil on my paddle strop and it works quite well and I am not bothered by the darkening, neatsfoot will do the same. Good luck!

I use mineral oil on my strops, and it works well. But, I haven't read anything that says this is OK or not OK.

Actually, yesterday, I got fed up with my curly vintage strop and all I add on hand, at 2 in the morning, was Johnson & Johnson baby oil... with perfume and all. I decided to give it a shot anyway. Poured maybe 4-5 teaspoons on the back side and 2 teaspoons on the front side... rubbed it all in. The strop absorbed all of it and did become almost black. I then put it in between two granite slabs and rolled a bottle over it. It's better now... very supple and has that baby oil smell... but oily... that's to be expected. It will be OK in a couple of weeks. I think it was never really treated. It has my approval! :P

I've used mineral oil on a couple of strops and it worked OK for me. As previously mentioned it did darken them a bit but doesn't effect the performance of the strop. Be sure to work (rub) it in good, palm of hand works fine. To help loosen/soften the strop I also work the strop after applying mineral oil; roll it up with smooth side in then smooth side out a few times. I even bend/curled it up both ways on the sides. I'm sure other members will chime in with other helpful tips........Welcome to SRP!