Thread: strop dressing?

Hey, I'm new around here and I've got a question about strop dressing. I got some Fromm strop dressing off classicshaving.com (links at bottom) and one part of its use puzzles me. When I first used it, I had had and used my strop for several months and figured it was about time (although I don't really know what to look for in a strop that indicates it is time to use strop dressing). When I used it, it actually felt like I made it dryer than it was when I started. When I stropped, the razor made a really raspy sound, almost like metal on metal. Since then I've had a series of not so good shaves and I'm wondering where I went wrong with it. The instructions say to "repeat" but it doesn't specify a number of iterations. So far I've done it twice and I'm wondering:

1. If the sound it was making is a bad one (I think so)
2. What to do about it to get my strop back in order

Thanks =0).

The dressing I bought:
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196060.htm

The strop I own:
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196032.htm

440, that is the same strop (I think) and dressing I use. What you want to look for when stropping a razor is drag. You want to feel the razor "sticking" a little bit when making a pass on the strop. If that makes sense. You were probably due for an application of dressing. Where do you keep the strop? Is it an air-conditioned/heated climate controlled environment? If so, it will dry out and you will need to keep it dressed. When I begin to lose the drag, I dress my strop. I coat it good, rub it in, lying flat on the bathroom counter then let it sit overnight. The next day I rub it down with a wad of stiff toilet tissue to take off whatever the strop didn't absorb. Then rub it down for a god 5 min or so with the heel of a hand. After that, you're good to go. Keep an eye on your razors, the first couple of laps around the strop you may scrape off a bit of residue with the spine of the razor. That's the stuff that you missed with the TP. No biggie, it just shows you your strop has enough conditioning. Wipe the blade and continue. You should be good for a month or more untill you start to lose the drag again. Oh yeah, make sure to shake the bottle before use. Hope you find this helpful .................Jeff

I keep my strop in my office which has a fair amount of air circulation so I imagine it dries out. Anyways, I didn't shake the bottle before applying or anything, so I'm just gonna give it one more dressing later today, let it sit overnight and give it another go. Its just that after dressing it for the first time, the texture of the leather has changed substaintially from when I originally got it. I remember the leather having little tiny hairs and possibly some kind of white powder on it (but that wore away after a while). Now its a fair bit different and that just made me nervous.

It should darken somewhat with use, and begin to take on a shine. There won't be any hairs or powder on a properly used and maintained strop.....Jeff

Ahh...then I guess I'm heading in the right direction then =0). Thanks muchly for the reassurance.

Now I just use leather conditioner on my stuff. It has worked quite well for the leather that I strop my wood tools with.

Is there a difference in conditioning the leather and strop dressing? My lexol conditioner prevents it from drying out and keeps it in premium shape for the longest possible time.

what does strop dressing do other than condition the leather and moisturize it?

Thanks.

Nothing that I know of FUD. I've heard of people using all different sorts of things on strops to keep them supple. I'm sure you're fine. I have some Lexol for my car seats, I've just never tried it on a strop. The Lexol has nearly the same consistency as the dressing as far as I can tell.....Jeff

Originally Posted by FUD

Now I just use leather conditioner on my stuff. It has worked quite well for the leather that I strop my wood tools with.

Is there a difference in conditioning the leather and strop dressing? My lexol conditioner prevents it from drying out and keeps it in premium shape for the longest possible time.

what does strop dressing do other than condition the leather and moisturize it?

Thanks.

I agree.

Originally Posted by threeputt

Nothing that I know of FUD. I've heard of people using all different sorts of things on strops to keep them supple. I'm sure you're fine. I have some Lexol for my car seats, I've just never tried it on a strop. The Lexol has nearly the same consistency as the dressing as far as I can tell.....Jeff

is there anything wrong with using a petroleum based leather conditioner. i have boot oil that is a conditioner. what about using silicone. baseball glove leather conditioner? is there a reason that strop dressing needs to be used?

Originally Posted by blakeam

is there anything wrong with using a petroleum based leather conditioner. i have boot oil that is a conditioner. what about using silicone. baseball glove leather conditioner? is there a reason that strop dressing needs to be used?

People have posted here that silicone may present a problem.
Stay with the tried and true.

Just my two cents,