Thread: Waxing new horse shell strop?

That is good advice, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" The only thing I've ever done is rub them with the palm of my hand....

I got the 3" version of the Horween shell cordovan strop about 2 weeks ago and I'm still getting the feel for it. It's very thin and has an amazing light draw.

Regarding the use of wax, the seller being discussed (Jarrod of The Superior Shave) has posted his thoughts on this thread on his website, under the "Strops" category. Regardless of how one feels about wax, as students of strops we ought to read and consider his comments. He sells a lot of razors, and hones and strops each one before it leaves his shop. His comments are based on stropping 2000 razors on one Horween shell cordovan strop during the past year.

I don't know what the correct answer is to the wax question, if there is even one correct one. However, one ought to at least give some thought to an opinion based on so much experience.

Originally Posted by TheLegalRazor

I got the 3" version of the Horween shell cordovan strop about 2 weeks ago and I'm still getting the feel for it. It's very thin and has an amazing light draw.

Regarding the use of wax, the seller being discussed (Jarrod of The Superior Shave) has posted his thoughts on this thread on his website, under the "Strops" category. Regardless of how one feels about wax, as students of strops we ought to read and consider his comments. He sells a lot of razors, and hones and strops each one before it leaves his shop. His comments are based on stropping 2000 razors on one Horween shell cordovan strop during the past year.

I don't know what the correct answer is to the wax question, if there is even one correct one. However, one ought to at least give some thought to an opinion based on so much experience.

I think we all have.

Originally Posted by roughkype

I just splurged on a 2" Horween leather horse shell Cordovan strop made by the Walkin Horse people, and the vendor recommended I polish it with something like turtle wax. That seems like very strange advice to give for a stropping surface. Has anybody else heard of this practice?

I've shaved off it, and there's either a placebo effect or it really does a nicer thing to my edge than my Illinois steerhide strop.

Thanks for input. I'm puzzled by this.

Originally Posted by TheLegalRazor

I got the 3" version of the Horween shell cordovan strop about 2 weeks ago and I'm still getting the feel for it. It's very thin and has an amazing light draw.

Regarding the use of wax, the seller being discussed (Jarrod of The Superior Shave) has posted his thoughts on this thread on his website, under the "Strops" category. Regardless of how one feels about wax, as students of strops we ought to read and consider his comments. He sells a lot of razors, and hones and strops each one before it leaves his shop. His comments are based on stropping 2000 razors on one Horween shell cordovan strop during the past year.

I don't know what the correct answer is to the wax question, if there is even one correct one. However, one ought to at least give some thought to an opinion based on so much experience.

You and Jarrod should probably actually read the OP first before commenting

Turtle Wax is the question asked here and what was answered here, now Jerrod is claiming ignorance about Turtle Wax but here let me get the answers for you both, OK ???

Turtlewax

Even their Carnnuba wax has the same


1. PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
PRODUCT NAME TURTLE WAX SUPER HARD SHELL CARNAUBA PASTE WAX
PRODUCT CODE T-005(C)
CHEMICAL FAMILY Waxes and Polishes
CHEMICAL NAME Mixture: waxes, solvent, water, additives
FORMULA Mixture
MANUFACTURER EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Turtle Wax, Inc. Transportation:
625 Willowbrook Centre Parkway CHEMTREC: 800-424-9300
Willowbrook, IL 60527 Medical:
Phone: 630-455-3700 Contact your local Poison Control Center
Fax: 630-455-3868
2. POSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
COMPONENT CAS NUMBER CONCENTRATION (wt %)
Petroleum Distillates 64742-47-8 5-8%
(Hydrotreated Light Distillate Solvent)
EXPOSURE LIMITS 8 hrs. TWA(ppm) CARCINOGEN
OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV (OSHA,NPT,IARC)
Petroleum Distillates 100 ppm 100 ppm No
(Hydrotreated Light Distillate Solvent)
3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
INHALATION: Repeated or excessive inhalation of vapor can cause irritation, dizziness, and
nausea. No chronic effects known.
INGESTION: Causes digestive system upsets, dizziness, nausea, and may cause chemical
pneumonia, which may be fatal, if sucked into lungs. No chronic effects known.
SKIN CONTACT: Repeated or excessive contact can cause moderate irritation, de-fatting or
dermatitis. No chronic effects known.
EYE CONTACT: Causes irritation. No chronic effects known.





Turtle Wax again (like my first post) is Loaded with Petroleum Distillates now if you and Jarrod want to slap that on your strops feel free, but I sure am not going to say go for it when somebody asks on SRP...


BTW welcome to SRP, where we deal in the facts...


ps: OP means Original Post (er)

Not to 'pile on' but ..... to the best of my knowledge draw , also known as friction, or resistance, is a desirable characteristic in a razor strop. Wouldn't wax make the horsehide strop, well known for light draw compared to bovine, be even slicker ? IME palm rubbing , over time, will gradually increase the draw of a shell or horsehide strop.

Most of us consider that an improvement over the new as is strop. OTOH, I may be mistaken. Does applying wax, of any sort, improve stropping characteristics ? I have a hard time imagining that it would and I'm not going to try it on any of mine. I live in FL but spiritually , on this issue, I'm from Missouri.

Jim.Why is draw a desirable Characteristic? what effect do's have it on the edge? May never be an answere I think.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Wouldn't wax make the horsehide strop, well known for light draw compared to bovine, be even slicker

Not IME. The conditioner I use contains both oils & beeswax & restores the strops characteristics even slightly increasing the draw but that may be the oils rather than the wax for all I know. I use it rarely or after any sanding.
Turtle wax goes on my car tho not on my strops.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Jim.Why is draw a desirable Characteristic? what effect do's have it on the edge? May never be an answere I think.

Years ago I read a thread where guys were comparing Tony Miller's horsehide .... no draw and his latigo (bovine) a lot of draw. Some said that the horse was no good at all (for them) and most did prefer the latigo. Now I had both and the latigo felt like it would snatch the razor out of my hand .... with normal ... my normal ... pressure .... which ain't much. The horse was just right for me. Anyway, it seems to me there needs to be resistance ..... draw ..... for the strop to be doing anything . OTOH, I could be wrong ..... you know the rest of it .....

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Not IME. The conditioner I use contains both oils & beeswax & restores the strops characteristics even slightly increasing the draw but that may be the oils rather than the wax for all I know. I use it rarely or after any sanding.
Turtle wax goes on my car tho not on my strops.

I would never use turtle wax for anything.... when I think of all of the turtles they have to destroy for a stinking can of wax ..... some people will do anything for a buck ...

.................