Thread: Cordovan Strop Care

Once a year I use a tiny bit of renaissance wax on my Kanayama strop. During the year I'll hand rub the leather till it feels warm. It has worked well for me.

Originally Posted by BanjoTom

Once a year I use a tiny bit of renaissance wax on my Kanayama strop. During the year I'll hand rub the leather till it feels warm. It has worked well for me.

I have used renaissance wax on razors and scales like horn, bone and ivory but never on a strop, I am curious as to how you apply it.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

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!

I am currently in strop therapy and as such I have to fight the addiction to buy another, over the past several years I have gone thru so many strops chasing that perfect draw, I currently have one oil tanned that’s going to be sold off and plan on listing in BST once I have time to take some pics and list.

Originally Posted by Jnatcat

I am currently in strop therapy and as such I have to fight the addiction to buy another, over the past several years I have gone thru so many strops chasing that perfect draw, I currently have one oil tanned that’s going to be sold off and plan on listing in BST once I have time to take some pics and list.

No therapy needed as you can't have too many strops. I prefer several strops with different draws and feels, as I like to use certain strops with certain razors. Some of it is "nutty," as I like to use my Kanayama with my Japanese razors, and 1/2 to near full hollow with my shell, etc. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a fast draw, and at other times a slower, smooth draw. It's all great fun!

Originally Posted by evnpar

I like to use certain strops with certain razors. Some of it is "nutty," as I like to use my Kanayama with my Japanese razors

With my Japanese razors I only use my Kanayama, it just wouldn't be right to use anything else!

In the 5ish years I've had my Kanayama I've only ever palm rubbed and once in a blue moon use a damp towel to clean. Naomi San and Neil Miller recommend this only to keep a new strop in top condition.

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.

Well I received my bottle yesterday and applied what I call a small amount and let dry to a light haze per the directions then used a cotton cloth to lightly buff then used my horse hair brush to buff, the end result is a leather that has a tad more gloss to it with a tad more slickness due to the small amount of wax it contains, i doubt I will use this often and not because it’s not needed but I just wanted to put some oils back in it that I removed during the light saddle soap wash so overall their are no ill affects to using this product on shell cordovan but since this is what Horween recommends using on there shell which is where this leather was sourced from I figured there would not be but you never know, I took a chance as my pricey strop survived and looks better as a result.

With some use the tad more gloss and slickness will disappear. At least it did when I used carnauba wax.

Bob

I also got my bottle last night. I did the same thing but it was applied to Cordovan shell strops I was restoring and that had therefore been somewhat necessarily abused ie. nicks sanded out or rubbed with bone/glass and wiped repeatedly with a damp cloth. This morning I buffed out the cream and it noticed it had restored some of the original waxes/oils and the draw had returned to normal.
Nick Horween uses this exact cream as the Cordovan is being processed. I knew a small amount wouldn’t ruin the strop or blow up the world. You do need to be careful selecting a cream without turpentine and I would ONLY use Venetian unless otherwise made for strop care.
I am very happy with the results. I have been looking for this exact answer for my restored strops for a LONG time. Thanks jnatcat!

Here is some info on the Venetian shoe cream from the maker, if it’s suggested by Horween to use it then I figure it’s safe to use but use at your discretion gents,

Venetian Shoe Cream | C.A. Zoes Mfg Co | The Shoe Care People Since 1905

Yea, I use the cream on my Cordovan shoes and it works great but a strop ain't shoes.

I'm not bothered by a little dulling. My Raven still works like new and as far as I'm concerned a strop should look well used.(notice I say LOOK only)