Thread: Cordovan Strop Care

Originally Posted by evnpar

I've used my Neil Miller shell cordovan regularly for about four years now, and the shine does decrease with use. Your strop appears to be fine in your photos. I palm rub mine before each use, and that's it, and I would be hard pressed to ever doing anything else to it for fear that I would damage it.

The wear appears more visible actually looking at it in person but as stated we are rubbing steel to a piece of leather and it’s bound and determined to wear, I am thinking I may have removed some of the oils and waxes doing the light saddle soap wash so may try a tiny amount, I have a small piece of cordovan scrap leather that a maker sent me, it’s a cutoff piece so may use it on that to see what affects it yields.

I ain’t scared. I ordered a small bottle for under $10 and will give it a shot on one or two of my shell Cordovan strops. Somebody has to get off the proverbial pot here and try it. If you’re scared stay home.

My Kanayama 90 gets a lot of use and shows this.
Even so it works the same as always.
I used Leatherique in the past and regretted ever messing with it.

One thing to be careful of is when rubbing with a wet cloth, don't use too much pressure or you can break up the surface.

Originally Posted by Steel

I ain’t scared. I ordered a small bottle for under $10 and will give it a shot on one or two of my shell Cordovan strops. Somebody has to get off the proverbial pot here and try it. If you’re scared stay home.

I to ordered a small 3 oz bottle and plan on testing it on a piece of cordovan scrap I have then depending on the outcome I will either use or not use it on the strop

Perhaps shoot an email to Alastair (Westholme strops) and see what he recommends? I know he's not taking new orders for awhile but he might offer some professional insight and recommendations.

https://ashlandleather.com/pages/ash...lishing-method

I do this (without the cream) and it brings back the cordovan to a shine. Adding the cream can change the draw. Same method works great on other leathers as well.

Originally Posted by BobH

The only thing I have done to my shell Cordovan strop for regular maintenance is palm rub before stropping. I have cleaned it once after a couple of years of use with saddle soap, let it dry and polished it with pure carnauba wax. Talk about a light draw until it settled down again. The very light waxing has not done it any harm from what I can see

Bob

I talked to Alastair ( Westholme Strops ) regarding maintenance of his strops (Harween ). He advised against oil of any kind on Cordavon and suggested a gentle palm rubbing on occasion . For cleaning, just a slightly damp cloth. Mine's getting a bit scuffed also . I just consider it character . . . . .

I had already discussed this with Alastair early on and yes he only recommends palm rubbing and I also have a wallet from Ashland and they recommend the cream that is endorsed by Horween but could not comment if the draw would change on the strop.

in my experience any cream changes the draw. I also don't believe it's necessary to palm rub with cordovan as there is already a significant amount of oils within the leather - it's a matter of bringing them back to the surface which is what the horsehair brush and cloth does. But I believe in to each his own - just my experience.

Seems to me, real shell cordovan, such as Horween, is luxury in a strop. I use a microfiber cloth and hand-rubbing on mine.
Wears quickly. The shell is quite thin. What the heck! Buy a new one!