Thread: Lathering a strop

Personally, I couldn't bring myself to put soap on a Tony Miller or SRD, or even a Kanayama, but too each his own. That's what's good about a forum like this, you can find out all kinds of info. If I want more draw, I have latigo, if I want less, I have horsehide. Funny thing, The soap works because of Tallow, and maybe the lanolin?

Tallow is animal based, if it's the real deal, now, Neetsfoot oil and mink oil (the real stuff) are rendered animal fat too...Same thing? Kinda/Sorta? I think if I had a strop that needed conditioning, I'd go the neetsfoot route. I don't think I'd rub my strops down with soap, just to do it. There'd have to be a good reason. I have about 12 strops, and I really like them the way they are. YMMV. I have one strop (not mentioning any names) that I'd experiment on.

In reality,is no diff than rubbing down the strop with your hand supposedly transferring skin oils.
When I did it I used a very dryish lather,very little water,did not even feel like the stop was wet.
All high end leather is conditioned with things that make them supple.

Originally Posted by zib

If I want more draw, I have latigo, if I want less, I have horsehide. Funny thing, The soap works because of Tallow, and maybe the lanolin?

T I think if I had a strop that needed conditioning, I'd go the neetsfoot route.

Same with me Rich, I have different strops with different characteristics. Sometimes I might go to one or another just because the mood strikes me or maybe I think one might be better on a particular razor.

Tony used to furnish a small bottle of neatsfoot with his strops. He and I had a conversation about it a couple of years ago and he told me he wasn't furnishing it anymore. Some guys went overboard with it. It can be too much of a good thing as you know. OTOH when applied sparingly it will increase the draw and won't harm the strop.

I had a correspondence with Tony Miller a couple years ago on this very subject. He recommended doing nothing more than giving your strop a hand rubbing before each use, especially for latigo. To each his own, but if it's good enough for a stropmaster it's good enough for me.

I've lathered all my strops and like how they look and feel quite a bit. they all have flattened out and feel much softer and smoother. this has been a great thread for me.

I just lathered my strop with williams. Williams makes my skin really soft afterwords so I figured why not. It's way softer and more supple now, you guys should take into account that this barber is 87 years old so he learned all the best tricks in the golden era for straight razors. But like everyone said to each is own. I for one am a believer. thanks for the post!

I actually just got done honing a razor and stropping it on my strop after treating it with lather. It increased the draw a lot and made my stropping go by a lot faster with less strokes. Compared to neatsfoot oil lathering with a glass bottle beats it hands down for me.

Giving it a go on my medal of award 814. Why not right?