Thread: Two questions

1) does any one use the suede side of the leather strop, either unpasted or if with paste, which one? (that is, if the back of your leather strop is exposed and is suede).

2) what oil do you use to apply powdered compounds to balsa, linen, felt or leather?

I understand neatsfoot is the best for leather, but had anyone tried mink oil, mineral oil, coconut oil, etc? I've got some pure coconut oil I was tempted to experiment with, to paste a backup leather strop with CrO2.

I don't use the back side of my primary strop since it's siped to make the leather more supple. I have used the back of my poor man's strop from WhippedDog.com, but it isn't really what I'd consider suede. I only use it occasionally when stropping a freshly honed razor.

As for the oil question, I don't use pastes so I can't give any advice other than any of the ones you listed should work for pasting a balsa strop. Some of them might not provide an optimum experience on leather, though.

The best I have found as a carrier for powdered pastes is using Fromm Strop dressing, it keeps the powder suspended better than any oil I have used and gives a more even application,.. I would bet that any cream style leather conditioner would work the same though for leather..

I don't use anything but leather for pastes, and the SRD Hanging felt for Diamond sprays...


You really want to be pretty picky about applying pastes and sprays, you have put in all the work on the hones you don't want to mess it up with stropping on a bad/rough/uneven/hard medium with the pastes... Just a thought

The liquid is just a carrier so ideally something that will dry or evaporate leaving the paste. No different than with paint.

I would avoid organic or edible type oils since they can become rancid.