Thread: Strop in the bathroom?

Noxa

I have always kept mine hanging in the bathroo. It is an old Hoffritz that I have had for over 35 years. There is an exhaust fan in the bathroom and when not in use the door is open. Never had a problem with too much humidity. Also remember if it is to dry the leather will dry out unless you treat it.

Interesting to see all these different reply's. As it is my first (and inexpensive strop) I'm gonna keep it in the bathroom. If it starts to wear off to fast or starting to show humidity related issues I'll buy a new one and hang it somewhere else.

I have a nice size Washroom with large tub and a seperate shower room. Off the washroom, I have a large walk in closet, which has become my shave den. I keep all of my items in there. All the razors are in humidity controlled storage containers. The room is climate controlled, and has a dehumidifier.

Like anything else, you need to be proactive. Periodically rub your strops with your hand. The natural oils will help, and will not change the appearace or draw. With razors, keep a light coat of oil, or wipe them with a silicone treated gun cloth. I periodically treat mine with Renaisssance wax. I haven't had any problems.

Originally Posted by Noxa

Interesting to see all these different reply's. As it is my first (and inexpensive strop) I'm gonna keep it in the bathroom. If it starts to wear off to fast or starting to show humidity related issues I'll buy a new one and hang it somewhere else.

And there of course is your key answer. Happy shaving to you.

Originally Posted by Noxa

Hi all,

As a total newbie in the world of straight razors I'm digging in to hours of youtube material about shaving, stropping (stroptober video's are really helpful) , honing and all the other things that surround straight razor shaving.
The first thing that I noticed was that most people tent to strop their razor in the bathroom, at that point I start to think that storing a leather strop in a humid environment as in a bathroom is far from ideal.

So do you guy's leave your strop hanging in the bathroom, or do you take it to a less humid room in the house. Or is my worrying for nothing and won't do the wet bathroom any harm to my strop?

(I'm not accustomed to English typing so bare with me if my spelling and grammer has some flaws.)

Great question. I hang my strop in the bedroom adjacent to the bathroom where I shave. I have the same concerns you have and for that reason don't keep it in the bathroom.

I keep my strops in a walkin closet adjacent to the bathroom. I live in humid Florida and don't keep any hardware related to shaving in the bathroom.

I have seven strops that all live in the bathroom. My humidity is an average of 65% and goes to 84% to 87% during a good rain after my wife and I take a shower in the morning.

For what it is worth - There are saddles from the crusades in museums, some of the saddles from the hay day of the American west are still around. Everyone of those saddles saw rain, mud and sometimes blood as well as snow and ice. Not to mention the leather scabbards of swords from the mid evil times. What each of the above leathers have in common is someone cared enough to clean the dirt & blood off and oil them.

Leather is nothing more than a skin from some kind of critter that has been treated so it will not rot or stink. To keep it pliable either the fibers in the hide are broken down or oil is infused to keep it pliable. The biggest killer of leather of any type is lack of oil and air movement. I can not tell you how many times I have had a customer bring me a gun belt, holster or a bag that belonged to Great Grand Daddy that had dried out and rotted because it was treated as a shrine and kept in a closet and not oiled. If a piece of quality leather including a strop is simply kept clean by wiping it down with a damp cloth, is oiled and has air movement, it will last you your lifetime and your kids should be using it. Oil is the food leather needs and just like kids, your leather "anything" needs a bath and fresh air.

To bring this home go back to when you were a kid and think about your ball glove. How many times did it get wet and dirty, how much dog slobber got on it? If you oiled it and kept it out of a plastic bag - Well good chance is it is still around

Originally Posted by hidestoart

I have seven strops that all live in the bathroom. My humidity is an average of 65% and goes to 84% to 87% during a good rain after my wife and I take a shower in the morning.

For what it is worth - There are saddles from the crusades in museums, some of the saddles from the hay day of the American west are still around. Everyone of those saddles saw rain, mud and sometimes blood as well as snow and ice. Not to mention the leather scabbards of swords from the mid evil times. What each of the above leathers have in common is someone cared enough to clean the dirt & blood off and oil them.

Leather is nothing more than a skin from some kind of critter that has been treated so it will not rot or stink. To keep it pliable either the fibers in the hide are broken down or oil is infused to keep it pliable. The biggest killer of leather of any type is lack of oil and air movement. I can not tell you how many times I have had a customer bring me a gun belt, holster or a bag that belonged to Great Grand Daddy that had dried out and rotted because it was treated as a shrine and kept in a closet and not oiled. If a piece of quality leather including a strop is simply kept clean by wiping it down with a damp cloth, is oiled and has air movement, it will last you your lifetime and your kids should be using it. Oil is the food leather needs and just like kids, your leather "anything" needs a bath and fresh air.

To bring this home go back to when you were a kid and think about your ball glove. How many times did it get wet and dirty, how much dog slobber got on it? If you oiled it and kept it out of a plastic bag - Well good chance is it is still around

Preach brother preach!!!!!

Vegita 182 I am sitting here on my leather bench now. I was just oiling a piece before it went out. I guess I did kind of did stand on the stump.

Originally Posted by hidestoart

Vegita 182 I am sitting here on my leather bench now. I was just oiling a piece before it went out. I guess I did kind of did stand on the stump.

This guy knows of what he speakes folks,listen to him.