Strop cleaning tip

My Neil Miller Cordovan strop was at a stage where hand rubbing was no longer enough to clean and it was showing signs of a build up in places, So, having seen a video where Maestro Livi recommends lighter fluid as a cleaning agent I looked around to see what might be available - it's been many years since I smoked and even longer since I had a refillable lighter.

I keep brake disc cleaner available for when I'm polishing blades and I've just tried this on a piece of tissue paper - a squirt of fluid and then wipe the strop three or four times in the same direction. The effect was amazing in terms of the dirt that came away - and because this stuff evaporates quickly the strop was dry again within a few seconds. This time when I hand rubbed the difference was really noticeable. Something to bear in mind.

i would be worried that the harsh chemicals in the brake cleaner might harm the leather. interesting though if it does work well and does not harm the leather.

Do you think it could effect the draw? I daresay as it evaporates so quickly it doesn't have time to penetrate the leather.

PS your brave to test it out on a Neil miller Cordovan

Thank you for the information, but I'll pass.

Something designed for leather would be my only choice for my Neil Miller strop, like Lexol leather cleaner. It's been around many, many years. I use brake cleaner to rinse out my firearms & I agree with the gentlemen above...too harsh for a strop that can never be replaced as my old friend Neil is no longer with us.

Rubbing alcohol used with a cloth, in small amounts, will remove dirt & some stains. It also dries quickly.
A simple damp cloth used periodically throughout the strop's life, helps to prevent a lot.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Rubbing alcohol used with a cloth, in small amounts, will remove dirt & some stains. It also dries quickly.
A simple damp cloth used periodically throughout the strop's life, helps to prevent a lot.

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Hi John - I'd tried an ordinary cloth but it was not removing the in-ground stuff. Also, I was working on the principle that the brake cleaner evaporates so quickly that it would not have a chance to penetrate cordovan.

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Originally Posted by UKRob

Hi John - I'd tried an ordinary cloth but it was not removing the in-ground stuff. Also, I was working on the principle that the brake cleaner evaporates so quickly that it would not have a chance to penetrate cordovan.

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This process of yours, that you got from Maestro Livi, may be O.K. :shrug:

It's just that the idea of "brake cleaner" on a Neil Miller gave me the same reaction as when I first got tased.

I'm no leather expert, but lighter fluid just sounds too harsh for me!

Neil Miller used to recommend a barely damp cloth, and that's good enough for me!

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Originally Posted by Druid

I'm no leather expert, but lighter fluid just sounds too harsh for me!

Neil Miller used to recommend a barely damp cloth, and that's good enough for me!

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IIRC that is what Naomi-san (Kanayama) recommends as well. My solution would be to try lighter fluid/brake cleaner on an old vintage strop that I don't really care about. I have all three of those things. Even better, a scrap piece of top grain horse hide (untreated) I've got that as well.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

This process of yours, that you got from Maestro Livi, may be O.K. :shrug:

It's just that the idea of "brake fluid" on a Neil Miller gave me the same reaction as when I first got tased.

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"Brake Cleaner" and "Brake Fluid" are not one and the same. I'm sure Hirlau is aware of that, I'm just pointing it out for anyone who might *skim* through this thread.

As for using Brake Cleaner.... yes, it's going to degrease and clean leather, just as it would any parts in a braking system on a car. Lighter fluid is NOT the same, it is a very very light distillate of crude oil, and in fact it IS an oil of sorts, and it would not make a substitute for brake cleaner when working on cars. Given my druthers, I'd reach for the lighter fluid first and in fact I just did, cleaning the gunk off a powered strop I use for sharpening knives and such (never a straight razor, or course). It works great and is not as drying as brake cleaner would be.

Now, I don't think using Brake Cleaner is going to immediately ruin a strop, but I would feel the need to replace some of the natural oils after cleaning.

As with everything else, we all have a pet ways of doing things.... I tend to reach for a waterless mechanics hand cleaner with lanolin when I try to revive an old strop (NO PUMICE) and I do not use the citrus based ones either, just the mineral spirits type (I think mineral spirits and lighter fluid are pretty close to each other in the grand scheme of things).

But, all the above aside, I'll try a damp microfiber cloth first (cotton terry if I don't have micro fiber handy) first... then go from there. Pears bar soap works pretty well for me, if I need to 'up the cleaning' a bit, it's much like the saddle soap I used when I worked at Assiniboia Downs as a swing groom. There was lots of tack to take care of, and much of that tack was 20 or 30 years old and older. It would get muddy, sand and grit ground in from the track, sopping wet from when it rained.... lots and lots of abuse, but a pure glycerin soap and some neatsfoot oil is all we needed to use. Sure, it would eventually kill the leather, but daily use and weekly cleaning over 30 or 40 years is more abuse than a razor strop will see in a century of use. I would suggest that a lack of use is what's killing most strops.

That is my point of view... right or wrong.

Regards

Christian

Thanks Zero, I used the wrong word,, gotta go change that.

It happens Hirlau,

In fact, I think I had to go back and correct my post 3 times as proof reading before I post something never seems to catch the errors, but they stand out like sore thumbs, once you click the 'post" button....

Regards

Kaptain "Doh!" Zero

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Originally Posted by UKRob

My Neil Miller Cordovan strop was at a stage where hand rubbing was no longer enough to clean and it was showing signs of a build up in places, So, having seen a video where Maestro Livi recommends lighter fluid as a cleaning agent I looked around to see what might be available - it's been many years since I smoked and even longer since I had a refillable lighter.

I keep brake disc cleaner available for when I'm polishing blades and I've just tried this on a piece of tissue paper - a squirt of fluid and then wipe the strop three or four times in the same direction. The effect was amazing in terms of the dirt that came away - and because this stuff evaporates quickly the strop was dry again within a few seconds. This time when I hand rubbed the difference was really noticeable. Something to bear in mind.

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Rob,
There was a thread on this, someone else suggested women's makeup removal pads....I tried this both on the Crox side of the Livi loom strop (to remove the black stuff) and on the yellow leather side (to remove green stuff which transferred from the Crox side), works well with no ill effects that I can see....

Yup, they both work and I have tried them, but prefer WD40 on vintage strops. Whatever solvent, you use you will have to replace the lost oils. WD40 works well for removing old caked on Chrome Oxide from paddle strops.

In the Iwasaki text, he recommended removing oil from a strop using Gasoline, though some feel he meant Kerosene, in the translation.

Point is, as long as the oils are replaced, you should be ok. Personally on my daily divers, I just maintain them with a clean damp micro fiber and paper towel, and occasionally add, literally a drop or two of Ballistol on a paper towel occasionally.

Ballistol will remove dust and burnishing from the steel.

What happened to using your lather from your brush & a clean, dry wash cloth after you shave?

I've used Ballistol on my very old Illinois # 50 as well as my Kanayama 30000. Twice a year I'll use a very small amount of Renaissance wax on each of them. This seems to work well for me.
I'm aware that gasoline has been suggested to use as an agent to clean strops but that's way above my pay grade.

I'll never understand why folks use these sledgehammer approaches to cleaning strops. Bick has a leather cleaner which is designed for cleaning and is Ph balanced and cleans without deteriorating leather and contains no petroleum distillates.

If you want the cats meow get a kit of leatherique. It will make yer leather look brand new and supple and can be used for all leather. It's expensive but worth it especially if you have leather in your car or furniture in your house.

Gasoline, white gas, lighter fluid, mineral spirits, coleman fuel, kerosene, jet fuel, mineral oil etc. etc. are ALL distillates of crude oil.... they are all "oils". Some of these are filtered and more carefully distilled than others, some get additives (automotive gasoline for example) and are higher and lower in volatility as well as viscosity... heck, even petroleum jelly belongs to this group.

We consider these to be "mineral" oils, but they are made from dead plants and animals.... just a long long time ago.

The thinner, lighter, more volatile oils, will easily wash out heavier oils in something like leather, so we need to keep that in mind.

My own opinion on Iwasaki's suggestion of using gasoline to wash out excessive oil in a strop is that he probably referred to "white gas" or Coleman fuel as it's called here in Canada (no additives). It would dilute and wash out the oil in a strop, drying it out and not having too much of an offensive odor, something kerosene/jet fuel cannot claim. Kerosene will eventually dissipate, but it does take a long time. In the old days, automotive gasoline would have contained lead as an anti-knock additive and to protect the valves, and even though we don't add lead anymore, there are lots of other chemicals and cleaners added, never mind the 10% ethanol required in many countries.

We all have our ideas and beliefs on what should or should not be used on leather.... Unfortunately, none of us will be around long enough to say "See... I told you. Don't use X on a leather strop!!!"


Many will object to my method of cleaning old leather strops, not to mention how I clean and treat tack in the barn, but this is probably one of those moments where I just say "Hey, it works for me!"

YMMV

Regards

Christian

Like Banjo Tom & Euclid400 I love my Ballistol I have yet to find anything wrong with this product. It is great on all leather, guns,bike chain lube, cutting oil, tap oil, just about anything. I add a little to my Smith's honing solution.
In Europe it is used for medical purposes. The list just go's on. Any one who tinkers with metal or leather should have some of this stuff!
I have an old electric motor I couldn't get the oil plug out of one end. For about a week I put a very small amount of Ballistol on the threads of the plug. It broke free on day 6 with no damage to the metal.
Just try some!

Dave Huffman

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I'll never understand why folks use these sledgehammer approaches to cleaning strops. Bick has a leather cleaner which is designed for cleaning and is Ph balanced and cleans without deteriorating leather and contains no petroleum distillates.

If you want the cats meow get a kit of leatherique. It will make yer leather look brand new and supple and can be used for all leather. It's expensive but worth it especially if you have leather in your car or furniture in your house.

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Any chance of providing links to your recommended products? :shrug: Sure would make it easier for those interested in them. :tu

Bick one is a fairly aggressive cleaner. Bick 4 is a lighter cleaner as well as conditioner.
The 4 is all necessary for most.
Harley dealer nearby? This stuff has to be the same product as Bick 4.

Attachment 246180

I have several vintage strops. The Bick 4 keeps them like new, used once a year. Supple and clean.

JMO

You can get Ballistol at Gander Mountain & many gun shops. OR, go to ballistol.com

Slawman

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Originally Posted by Slawman

You can get Ballistol at Gander Mountain & many gun shops. OR, go to ballistol.com

Slawman

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So, you put Ballistol on your strop? :eek:

I get leatherique from Autopia. They are located in Florida.

Haven't needed to put anything on my strop other than wiping with a damp paper towel once in a while to clean any dust particles other than that what are you getting on your strop from stropping? Balistrol is great stuff but why would you need to oil your strop? Tc

Love the Bick 4, its a great product.

Yup. I just cleaned my Kanayama strop with lighter fluid this morning. Worked like a charm! Cleaned it right up! Placed two drops of ballistol oil in my hands, rubbed hands together, and then palm rubbed the strop. Like brand new now. I don't baby my strops. I own them and am not afraid to let them know that. Sometimes I sand the fudge out of them cuz they looked at me funny. I don't rub my hands on them every day or buy fancy cleaners. It's fine if you do but I use them and periodically I clean them. That's just me but I have heard barbers do the same and I figured why not? It worked for them and it works for me.

edited to add: Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. A good conversation with different ideas and products.

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Originally Posted by Steel

Yup. I just cleaned my Kanayama strop with lighter fluid this morning. Worked like a charm! Cleaned it right up! Placed two drops of ballistol oil in my hands, rubbed hands together, and then palm rubbed the strop. Like brand new now. I don't baby my strops. I own them and am not afraid to let them know that. Sometimes I sand the fudge out of them cuz they looked at me funny. I don't rub my hands on them every day or buy fancy cleaners. It's fine if you do but I use them and periodically I clean them. That's just me but I have heard barbers do the same and I figured why not? It worked for them and it works for me.

edited to add: Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. A good conversation with different ideas and products.

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That's right !!! You teach them strops who's the Boss !! If they complain, give them a Vegetal rub down !!!
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Ya gotta watch that lighter fluid. Uncle Zeke used to take his old strops with him and coat them with kerosene when he went Elk hunting. He'd light them and flail them around when the bears got too close. One day he flailed them too much and started a massive forest fire.

They're still looking for him.

My Kanayama has turned partially black.

I guess it's because I hone so much.. Also I used to apply a bit too much pressure on the top turn. Microscope images showed I was bending the edge on one side ( slightly,never effected the shave)

The other day I tried the damp microfiber technique.
It cleaned parts but I stopped because it's too delicate for hard rubbing...

I've ordered the leatherique cleaner...I'll post pics next week showing the before and after....

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Ya gotta watch that lighter fluid. Uncle Zeke used to take his old strops with him and coat them with kerosene when he went Elk hunting. He'd light them and flail them around when the bears got too close. One day he flailed them too much and started a massive forest fire.

They're still looking for him.

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I believe that what we have here is an example of Bull Shite Instead of Knowledge.

Attachment 246254

Update: where I live, women's makeup removal pads come in two versions: with oil and no-oil (read the label!). I've only used the latter.

It's times like this I miss Mr Miller to set everone straight. :(

These questions and their solutions for old strops may be way beyond our mortal powers to add and detract.
1st we need to remember that inorder for the strop to be there in the 1st place it just didn't come off the back of a horse or cow, it had to be chemically treated to become leather and there were Different ways to do this. The process that was used may determine what care was then and now needed.
The tanning(preserving) and the processing of the leather used for a strop may also have been unique to its purpose. It wasn't created to become a pair of boots or a coat. It was processed to become a strop. (Just like the iron in your razor).
The strop was designed to have a specific 'draw' smoothness or roughness to accomplish its purpose. The process and chemicals applied in its conception determined this. With old strops we can probably only guess what these were.
My suggestion is that if you now have a usable strop just wipe it off with a slightly damp towel every now and then and rub it with the palm of your hand before and after you use it. And Never Paste a good Leather strop!!





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Ether (brake cleaner) or Naphtha (lighter fluid) are great, although very volatile and flammable cleaners and degreasers. They will remove the crud along with all of the surface oils so a treatment after cleaning would be necessary.

Maybe it would help if I explain that I'm used to the damp cloth and occasional drop of Ballistol for maintaining my strops - however, the Neil Miller strop needed something more as I noticed that there were patches of residue building up that you could actually feel when stropping and that were resistant to the usual cleaning method.

I have to say that a few days on from using the brake cleaner, the strop looks to be in perfect health and is certainly performing better. Like one of the earlier contributors I'm not too precious about my strops and if this is what they need every 4 years or so, I'll do it again and would still expect them to outlast me.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

So, you put Ballistol on your strop? :eek:

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Yes I do.or I should say I did as I used it mainly to restore my Jager strop that had hung in a barn for 30 years. After getting the strop in good condition about 6 months ago I haven't needed to add any more. I figured my Jager did really good with the Ballistol so I used a small amount on my Koken strop with no problems. Ballistol was invented to clean & lube leather & guns for the Germans in WW-1. Go to their web site & check it out. My strops are now in like new condition so I will say "YES" I put Ballistol on my strops.