Thread: Leaded strops - Linen? Leather? Both?

Aloha!

I have never treated linen nor leather with pastes or lead or other metals or compounds.

To me, a strop is for alignment, not a continuation of honing. I only strop 10 passes on bare leather before a shave to assure the blade is in alignment. I never have added paste, rouge, or lead to leather or linen. Bare linen I only do after shaving (20 laps) followed by 10 laps on leather to aid in drying the blade and bring it back into alignment for storage. That's it.

But I respect the philosophy and methodology of others that do add compounds to their strop. If it works for you, then go for it!

-Zip

Originally Posted by Kees

@OP: lead is a poisonous substance, there are many non-toxic compounds you can put on your strop. So what do you think lead will do better than any of the other abrasive compounds available?

I'm not really sure, to be honest. I've been seeing the use of lead on strops come up in threads lately and became interested in trying it is all. I have some lead at home, so I thought I'd have a go at it. But before dedicating a strop to this I wanted to see if I should dedicate a linen or leather strop, or both.

It's well known that lead is poisonous and people should consider what that means to them as an individual before using it this way. After reading some comments here I am personally reconsidering it.

Perhaps some good alternatives could be suggested here for anyone who is reconsidering the use of lead.

I use CBN on a leather paddle strop. Works a treat. If, after reading all of the above, you still want to use the lead you have, make sure the crystals are all of a similar size.

I,ll concede that to you Nelson, I truly didn't think of the new guys coming on here and not being informed at their start. I will try to remember that in the future.

sometimes I get on edge about some things, it doesn't matter to me about what someone uses or what I use , to each their own. this rant went on from me not because I believe everyone should use it, only that I get upset with all the topics that come up on whats good and bad, yet the really bad stuff gets ignored for the cause. so all you new guys learn the trade with the basics and only try other tricks as you are more informed.

my lead strop works, but I would never intentionally ingest or inhale the dust. so always be informed . Tc

while we are worrying about lead, here is what the MSDS says about the health effects of Crox.

Potential Acute Health Effects: Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Hazardous in case of inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer). CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: A4
(Not classifiable for human) by ACGIH, 3 (Not classifiable for human.) by IARC. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for
mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL
TOXICITY: Not available. The substance may be toxic to upper respiratory tract, skin. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the
substance can produce target organs damage.

Any heavy metals are very bad for you. It's just that lead has been studied more mostly because of issues with brain damage in little kids going back to the 1950s where kids would eat paint chips of leaded paint.

Chromium oxide is used during tanning as well.

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

I want to give leaded strops a try and have had good advice that the lead should be applied to a leather strop. But I have also read that guys are applying lead to linen strops.

I'm wondering why one and not the other? Or why not both?

I don't know who told you about putting lead on a strop, but only traditional creams, oils or such, should be put on a strop, like shaving cream or just rubbing the palm of your hand on it, will help it stay in good shape.

He wasn't asking about maintenance of his strop, only what strop to put it on. I think it's been covered and he got his answer, Tc