Thread: stropping x stroke problem solved

i put this leather to good use only problem is the draw is super heavey and it feels like it has a wax coating on it.

A strop with heavy draw will indicate too much reassure very quickly, because you can't move the blade easily. I think heavy draw is good for that. You can get something with a light draw when you get that blade weight sorted out.

Is there any special way i should clean it, maybe with some saddle soap?

Well my thoughts are along the lines of go slow, it is easier to do a little more than try to take something back. HAHAHA I read that in another thread today and liked it. I would start with a damp cloth and see how far that went, progressing to a damp with a SMALL amount of lather or leather cleaner such as saddle soap.

Wait, does lather clean leather? I guess out would, but another guy told me never to use lather on a strop because one is on there you can never get it off.

You can alway do a site search and look for posts by Neil Miller and Tony Miller, both premier strop makers. It is more or less where my info comes from, past posts here on the forum. I have used lather on a strop in an attempt to recondition it, afterwards I oiled it and other than the fact that I over oiled it all is good.

Originally Posted by admvalentine

Wait, does lather clean leather? I guess out would, but another guy told me never to use lather on a strop because one is on there you can never get it off.

are you not thinking of pastes etc, i dont know categorically, but i have lathered my strop a couple of times, and in the long run it doesnt seem to have made a great difference to it, certainly doesnt seem to have any negative effect on the leather.

I periodically clean my shell strop with a damp cloth and shaving soap. It reduces the draw and the razor glides across the leather. Almost like the blade is rolling on ball bearings.

wiped lather on it and worked it in a few times with a drinking glass, I was out of beer, and some of the stain came out but after it dried it no longer had the glassy spots on it.

adamvalentine,

As a last resort :

If you really need to get wax out of the strop, use lighter fluid (such as Ronson) on a micro-fibre cloth - this works very well and does not damage the strop.

You will need to re-condition the leather after this treatment.

I had to do this with a highly waxed bridle leather strop that had un-useably heavy draw. It worked a treat

Have fun

Best regards

Russ