Thread: Neatsfoot Oil, do you use it?

Just discovered neatsfootoil, I've always just rubbed the palm of my hand on the strop ever day or two to keep the leather soft and supple. But what i noticed is sometimes my strop would feel gummy after a rub down, and while rubbing i could feel skin exfoliating off my palm. The gumminess on the strop strop was creating to much friction, and i felt like it was requiring two much force to keep the razor moving on the strop, or caused my stroke to not be smooth.

After a couple times wiping down my strop with neatsfoot oil, ive noticed much smoother action on my strop.

What do you guys think about it?

I have been using neat afoot oil for years and from what I understand from your post you may want to use some saddle soap on that strop one of these days, it will clean the leather of all the old shave soap residue from the blade as well as the excess oil from your hands that may be drawing dust from the air possibly causing the "gumminess" you referred to.

Another way to clean it is to wet a cloth with water, wring it out, wipe the strop a couple of times, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then wipe it with a dry cloth. This both cleans and adds moisture to the strop.

Daekkon,

For 'rubbing down' strops, I have found textured micro-fibre cloths work very well indeed. (I get mine from the local supermarket for ca 9 USD for 5 cloths)

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

Saddle soap and neatsfoot oil are what I use for major maintenance. Try the grease of your nose before stropping. I learnt that trick from a jeweller. He used to rub freshly polished stones on his nose for a shine. For a small paddle strop it is all you need.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Another way to clean it is to wet a cloth with water, wring it out, wipe the strop a couple of times, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then wipe it with a dry cloth. This both cleans and adds moisture to the strop.

+1

Here is a pretty good article on leather maintenance. My cobbler gave it to me.

Leather Preservation for new leather

Great article! Thanks for sharing.

I sometimes feel that what is best for the leather is at odds with my preferred stropping surface. I am experimenting with adding oils in very small quantities in order to find a happy compromise and possibly get the best of both.

I use Neetsfoot oil quite often on Horn Scales for reconditioning, but never liked the results on a Strop

Note: Real "Neetsfoot oil" is a little harder to find nowdays the watchword is "Compound" if it says Neetsfoot oil compound, move on

When I used it on a strop I always just put a little on my hand and rubbed as normal, I never applied it directly to the strop.. I was told years back that it could breakdown the fibers if you used to much of it

I use the damp cloth routine maybe every 6 months, and maybe once a year use the Lather routine, that seems to work for me and I like the draw that comes with it

Does the oil eventually foul your blade, or affect it adversely at all?