Thread: How to remove unwanted draw?

I know that a lot of you may like a lot of draw and I wanted to try more draw. So I added a little lather to my strop. I like the feel but I noticed that I have a tendency to use more pressure with more draw. How can I take the draw out of the strop or can I? At least until I have a little more experience. Also does rubbing the strop with your hand add a little draw at a time?

Thanks
James

rubbing it with your hand transfers the oils from your palm to the strop, so will add a little more draw. not as much as applying neatsfoot oil, but enough to keep it 'conditioned' between strops.

as for removing draw, it's going to take some time for the leather to dry out. you can wipe it down with a clean cloth, and perhaps store it in a tupperware container with some rice (that is how I get the moisture out of electronics that have fallen in toilets/gotten wet).
you want to go slow on removing the moisture though.

If the draw has only increased slightly you will get used to it. I know what you mean by feeling like there is more pressure. I used to think that latigo strops had a lot of draw and now, with more experience, they don't feel the way they used to. I suppose the latigo has the same amount of draw but I'm capable of a lighter touch. I wouldn't know how to 'remove' draw.

Originally Posted by poppy926

I know that a lot of you may like a lot of draw and I wanted to try more draw. So I added a little lather to my strop. I like the feel but I noticed that I have a tendency to use more pressure with more draw. How can I take the draw out of the strop or can I? At least until I have a little more experience. Also does rubbing the strop with your hand add a little draw at a time?

Thanks
James

Give the strop a good rub down with scratchy clean paper. This can
remove surface wax and oils that add a gummy draw feel to the strop.

You can apply thin coatings of strop dressing or Neatsfoot oil. Apply a
couple drops to the palm of your hand and then rub it on to the surface of the strop.
Strop dressing and other oils tend to increase the draw especially as they oxidize.

You can also polish the leather with a bottle. Since you lathered the strop
rub it with a damp clean cloth then burnish the surface with a glass soda pop
bottle (or wine, or vinegar bottle).

Now that you added some lather you have embarked on the endless quest
for the perfect draw... have fun....

I never agreed with this practice, rubbing soap into a perfectly good piece of leather. I've read about it, and know old time Barber's did it, but I doubt they had a SRD Premium 1 or Kanayama. Most probably had Scotch Shell which is slick. I have lot's of strops. That's how I get more or less draw. It's never a good idea to rub soap or lather into a fine piece of leather, really, regardless of what you've read. I'm not sure you can correct that situation. The strop can be cleaned with saddle soap, and re treated with Neetsfoot oil, but that will change your draw too. You may want to contact who ever you bought it from, and see what they recommend. What type of strop is it?

What I recommend to guys who want to experiment with draw is Tandy Leather. They have pieces of cowhide belt leather 3" x 50". You can go nuts adding whatever you like. It only cost a few bucks to buy, and you can make a couples of strops. That way, you don't have to mess up your good strop.

P.S. Tandy Leather also carries many different types of leather, the one by me has kangaroo and gator...for example....

Originally Posted by zib

I never agreed with this practice, rubbing soap into a perfectly good piece of leather. I've read about it, and know old time Barber's did it,

Keep in mind that most soaps used to be fat based. The soap they were using on those strops is different than most modern soaps. The only soap I ever have put on a strop is saddle soap, and that was only to clean nasty old ones.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Keep in mind that most soaps used to be fat based. The soap they were using on those strops is different than most modern soaps. The only soap I ever have put on a strop is saddle soap, and that was only to clean nasty old ones.

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saddle soap that is, on old vintage crappy, in need of resto strops.

I even brought that same point up (about old time soaps) some time ago, and it didn't matter to them Mr.U

Thanks guys for all the advise. I will give the rice thing a try if that doesn't work I will saddle soap it and start over.

@JimmyHAD I Like the fell but I know I am using added pressure to hold the razor and also razor to strop. I just want to keep practicing and improving technique (lesson learned). I think I have been trying to get to expert all at once, just my nature I guess.

@zib I have the SRD modular strop so if need be I can replace the leather with no problem. I will keep in mind Tandy Leather I do want a hanging strop and would love to make it myself.

poppy,
I have had success at reducing draw by pulling the strop tight with one hand as in position to strop and using my other hand to rub the surface with some pressure. Get your hand moving fast enough to create some friction to give a burnishing action to the surface. Go at it for upwards of a hundred passes or so. If you have applied a dressing you may want to use some sort of dry paper to rub as much of that off first. Otherwise, your hand will reduce the draw pretty well. Give it a try. The quest for the perfect draw is elusive but, obtainable. Experience will come and it will get better if you stay at it. Good luck with it.

Respectfully

Chasmo

Thanks Chasmo. I have been able to remove almost all the draw that I got from using the lather. I applied a little neatsfoot oil and have been rubbing it by hand. I really like where the draw stands now. Its a little more the the premium I came with but I don't used unnecessary pressure. Also I think I have got the flip down pretty good. Between that and just the right draw for me, at least for now. I am starting to get the hang of this. now if I can figure out that whole angle thing...All in due time I guess.