Thread: Oil for Strop

I have seen at several web sites neatsfoot oil for strop care. Are there adequate substitutes? Could one use say, mineral oil? If not mineral oil are there other products that one could use or is neatsfoot oil the way to go?

Thanks.

My advice,, before you go oiling your strop, take a good photo of it , so the strop guys here can give you the best answer.
If it needs to be refurbished, then they can tell you how.
Maybe it does not need oiling, maybe it needs some other type of care.

Have you been rubbing it with your hand until hot before using? That goes a long way toward keeping them in condition.

I would recommend taking pictures also and posting them. I would avoid mineral oil and look for
the litest saddle oil I could find.

kevin

I have used lather only to help brake in my big daddy but no other oils etc


Edit: my memory back up kicked in, I have also used the smallest amount of Nivea Vitimin E hand cream after rubbing it into my hands then onto the strop & this worked well also as the big daddy needs a bit of breaking in I found

A little bit of Neatsfoot oil will be fine, but the question is if it is needed really.
Hand rubbing, usually, is enough to keep a stop in good condition

If it really needs it any quality leather conditioner will work. Fromm strop dressing, Bick leather conditioner.

eezee,

What you have to consider is how you are going to get the fluid (Oil) to migrate into the center of the leather object. Most conditioners will have a wax in them. the molecular size of a wax will not allow it to pass through the top layer of the hide. When we wax our trucks we want to keep things off the paint. If it says buff to a shine, gloss or luster what would common sense tell you about its absorption rate? I would seek out a respected tack shop that does saddle repair ask them for the lightest saddle oil they have with out wax. Use a damp cloth and wipe off any grime and buildup then allow it to dry overnight (Remember damp not wet - overnight). apply the oil sparingly over several days 5-6 drops every other day. Start in the middle and work toward each end the first time, top down second time & bottom up on the third treatment. use this schedule until you think one more treatment will do it. When you reach that point STOP and allow it to absorb a few days and then see if it truly needs another treatment. If it is dried out as you believe, it took some time to get in that shape. you need to give it a few days or weeks to adsorb the oil and expand the fiber of the hide. Keep in mind the oil will migrate weeks after you are done.

I say light oil- consider taking 10 layers of paper towel and putting it in a funnel. if you pour a light weight oil in it it will migrate through but will take some time. Now think about putting 90 weight in the same funnel how long would it take for it to pass through?
Now add a wax to either of them and think about the time it would take.

My .02 worth
Kevin

Just apply the oil to your hands and then rub the strop. Done

Originally Posted by Hirlau

My advice,, before you go oiling your strop, take a good photo of it , so the strop guys here can give you the best answer.
If it needs to be refurbished, then they can tell you how.
Maybe it does not need oiling, maybe it needs some other type of care.

This here is good advice. Not all strops should be oiled.