Thread: Waterproof my roo?

I have a new SRD Roo strop that I was so fortunate to win at an SRP gathering here in PA. It's hanging in my barber shop at a very convenient spot for me to use. My concern is that it will get damaged from over spray from my water bottle or possible drips from my hands while tending to customers. Would a light waterproofing spray for shoe leather harm the strop or it's performance?

I'm sure that someone with more knowledge than I will come along soon with a definitive answer but I would think that any spray will change the treatment of the strop altering it. I'd find a different spot for it out of harms way if it were mine

I'm afraid your right. I just mounted a sturdy hook in an easy to access spot near my barber chair. Unfortunately it's not the ideal environment for it. Maybe I'll make a nice cover to slip over it while it isn't being used. Should have saved the plastic it came in.

I would think it will stain after awhile. If you going to use it as a daily tool it is going to look like it. If it has to be handy and wet all the time I would treat it with glycerin once in awhile. I am sure leather pros will come along. All my leather experience is with horse tack. It gets wet, slobber, dirt, beer all over it all the time. It lives, just looks used.

I've never used any treatments on my strops. Some are vintage, and some were bought in the last ten years. I would think any type of leather conditioner, oil, even soap would change the look and feel of the leather. I've restored vintage strops, once clean, I treated them with a very, very small amount of neetsfoot oil. The leather darkened, and the draw increased.

Now, I only rub them down with my hand, and it works great...! The natural oils in your hand should be enough, At least in my experience it has.....

I think Carl has a strop that he keeps in his bathroom and has for several years, it gets wet, it gets beauty products etc on it. He said that it still works fine, it just looks fairly ugly. So I personally wouldn't worry about it, just use it and Palm rub it regularly. But I am no expert.

Ed has a good idea with the palm rubbing.. I have seen the strop hanging by the window in your shop and I don't think there is much to worry about.

Once or twice a year you can put three drops of Neetsfoot oil on your palm and rub the strop for about 1 minute. The strop will be fine. It will outlive you.

The only thing that will hurt that strop is nicks. Nicks suck. I haven't nicked a strop since 1971. So I haven't had anything suck since 1971.

Again, that strop will outlive you Josh................Enjoy it.

Back in my ironworker days some of the guys used to treat their boots with a product called "Snow-Proof" Worked well to protect leather from exposure to water. OTOH, anything we put on a strop will effect the draw (resistance), Probably increase it, as neatsfoot oil does, so if you don't mind more draw that is one alternative.

I agree with the previous posts.

Applying a little neatsfoot oil on it from time to time ought to protect your roo strop from water damage.

Perhaps leaving it where it is and cover it with a dry towel or something while not in use..