Thread: Argh! This strop.

Hi all,

I have a new strop. Used it under a dozen times, but, dag, it's stiff.

Its a 3" Big Daddy strop. How do I break it in or soften it up a bit? I'm pretty sure I'm not getting a great strop and I also pretty sure that its because the strop isn't supple enough.

After watching some of Stroptoberfest, I'm convinced I need to hasten the break in process somehow.

Any ideas??

How's the draw? Light or heavy?

Is that defined by the sucking effect to the strop of the blade passing it over the strop? If so, it varies and is inconsistent at best. There is an ever so slight ridge along part of the strop in the direction one would stroke that I figure will fully flatten when broken in.

I can get a few good strops back and forth, but then nothing. I've been rubbing my nose and head oil into it... As you'd could imagine, no appreciable acceleration of "break in".

I probably am not understanding "draw" properly.

Not sure what you mean about the ridge without pics but people will sometimes run a coffee mug or a glass bottle along the strop to break it in and recondition it with lather. I wouldn't use the lather at this point though as you shouldn't really need it on a new strop.

Rub the bejeebus out of it with the palm of your hand. Repeat.

The naturally occurring oils in our hands make for great strop conditioners, so you want your hands to be clean but not freshly washed. I.e. no dirt, etc., but you don't want to have just washed those oils off. Rub it until it gets warm, then rub it with your other hand. Later on, repeat the process. That should help make (and keep) it supple.

You are correct on what draw is. Heavy draw will feel "stickier", and some argue that this extra grab makes it a faster (get's the job done sooner, not a faster stropping motion) strop.

Can you take any pictures of it?
If so, try with raking light so the texture stands out.

@Cangooner,

I do that already. It has only slightly been helping.

I know your feeling, when I got mine I found it as stiff as also but the following is recommended by Star shaving,

[Quote]
For Best Results use water and soap on the leather, such as your shave brush with shave soap. Also use the palm of your hand to rub the leather strop occasionally to help keep the leather pliable. When the leather is not pliable use Neatsfoot oil and when the leather is dirty use Saddle soap. Use a lint roller to keep the Felt strop clean. We have replacement leather or felt for the "OVB" strop if you ever need to replace the leather or felt part of the strop for any reason such as cuts put into leather or felt strop from stropping. That is why we use Chicago screws in making the "OVB" strop so that the strop can be worked on easily if ever needed. [Quote]

After I did the soap & bottle trick also improved tremulously more than just the hand rubbing.
I don't remember getting this information sheet with mine but my nephew got the same info as above from their site when he bought his not long ago
Cheers D

Attachment 141939Attachment 141940
I don't know if you can see the ever so slight ridge.


Substance,
I'm going to give the soap and water a shot. And bottle, I suppose. Are you supposed to just get the stropping side wet and soapy? Do you need to just let it sit and dry? Does it need to sknk in? How long? Rub in with palm? Is the whole leather strop supposed to be soaked? Silly questions to some, but necessary all the same.