Thread: Strop leaves a layer of "gunk" on my blade

So I bought a very lightly used (practically new) SRD 3" red latigo strop off the BST a few months back, but I didn't use it for a while because I was favoring a black latigo bench strop from Star Shaving to practice on while I got proficient at it. Anyway, I finally started using the SRD strop, and after using it, I find a layer of dark red 'gunk', like dry, thick grease, accumulating on the spine of my blade after use. Not from the fabric webbing, just from the red leather. It doesn't appear to have been treated with any sprays or pastes, but who knows? I don't have any saddle soap, but I have some beeswax-based "Sno-Seal" leather conditioner I could apply to it after wiping it down with a wet cloth.... should I get some neatsfoot oil to use to clean it? Any suggestions?

You can try using lather and a soft cloth to clean off whatever is on it or ever just a lightly damp cloth.

My 3" red latigo from SRD is about 2-months old and I was having the same issue. I took a warm damp wash cloth and wiped it down well. Then rubbed it with a micro-fiber cloth. It's like it was new again. Feels much better stropping, now that the strop is clean. It was kind of like a greasy residue.

I've seen it but never worried about it.

As already mentioned use a damp towel (really ring it out)and rub your strop down, leave it to dry and then hand rub everytime you use it. No need to use anything else on it other than hand rubbing otherwise you could easily ruin a perfectly good strop.

Latigo's do that. it usually stops after you have used it several times.

My black Latigo does this as well doesn't bother me at all. Performance uncompromised. Give it a quick wipe and shave.

My Latigo sometimes needs a wipe with a wrung out damp clean towel when it's performance seems to be lagging. Sometimes, I wipe only with a dry towel. Wiping usually restores the expected draw and performance. A clean leather strop surface is important. If the strop is performing well, just keep repeating what you are doing. My strops are all recently made and so far have not needed any additives beyond hand wiping between shaves.

HTH

My wife just found the wash cloth I used to clean my strop, not happy.

Wiping my Latigo leaves red stains on the towel. This usually disappears when I launder my dark colored towels. Towels are cheap at the local dollar store and a bargain for ensuring domestic harmony. The level of staining reduces over time.