Thread: Leaded strops - Linen? Leather? Both?

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'm interested in the leaded strop too. Was thinking of linen. Will be watching this one.

I don't know jack about applying lead to a strop however lead is toxic in any form and the lead will transfer to the razor and anything else it comes in contact with and may possibly go airborn as you strop.

With all the great stropping compounds available why would you want to take a chance with your health?

I know they used it years ago but they used all kinds of poisons cause they didn't know better. These days lead is being removed from just about everything.

I agree.

Before anyone chimes in saying something along the lines of "I've been using it for years and I'm fine," I would like to point out that a lot of medical conditions are the result of cumulative damage and/or accumulated toxins. Why risk your health?

alright I will address this for you ,, why risk your health? we do everyday and no one wants to jump on that at all but lead gets so many up in arms. Ron, whisky is a killer to , even in small amounts, living in major cities has you breathing toxins accumulating daily, eating a damn fast food burger, man that's death. I don't say you must use lead, I just get irritated when we pick on this one but not the millions of daily hazards that we will overlook that is far worse for us. the us army didn't pull me out of combat because they were concerned over lead poisioning in 1971.

as a research guy you probably know they relate Alzhiemers and other serious diseases to the chemicals in our processed foods too. all I,m saying is if were going to attack lead lets attack the even more commonly used products in our daily lives like, more people die from traffic accidents than lead poisoning, but no one will quit driving right Tc

I agree with you but ideally I'd like to do what I can to balance quality of life and health risk. I consider a leaded strop to be something that I easily can do without given all of the non-lead options. Others are free to disagree and use a leaded strop.

Thanks for the quick replies, I appreciate the differing opinions about the risks.

But if one were to apply lead to a strop.... Linen? Leather? Why one and not the other?

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

alright I will address this for you ,, why risk your health? we do everyday and no one wants to jump on that at all but lead gets so many up in arms. Ron, whisky is a killer to , even in small amounts, living in major cities has you breathing toxins accumulating daily, eating a damn fast food burger, man that's death. I don't say you must use lead, I just get irritated when we pick on this one but not the millions of daily hazards that we will overlook that is far worse for us. the us army didn't pull me out of combat because they were concerned over lead poisioning in 1971.

as a research guy you probably know they relate Alzhiemers and other serious diseases to the chemicals in our processed foods too. all I,m saying is if were going to attack lead lets attack the even more commonly used products in our daily lives like, more people die from traffic accidents than lead poisoning, but no one will quit driving right Tc

With all due respect yea, that's the old excuse. We live with all kinds of hazards what's another one or why don't you go after this or that too. Tell that to all the kids drinking that water filled with lead in Michigan or my deceased dad who worked in shipyards during WWll and fell victim to asbestos poisoning.

The point is we minimize our risks where possible and make sane decisions kind of the risk benefit principle.

Sorry for hijacking the thread for a bit.

Following because this is curious to me.

lets be clear I don't advocate anyone doing something they don't think is safe, but my point is very clear there are dangers just as real and worse, that we do every day, and by the way I have people in my family who died in car wrecks because of drunks, I don't stop driving. I just don't agree that lead is your only enemy, but it gets the hairs up on people who choose to do unsafe things every day. the very worst is what we eat. there are is a line drawn I guess about what us as individuals will draw if its not something we use. as to the guy wanting to use lead, make your decisions based on your own way of life, it makes for a very smooth feel on your blade. or don't. I feel for you if someone you know died from lead contaminants, but I know many who haven't, and many who have died from everyday interactions from a host of other chemicals, good luck Tc