Thread: Lathering a strop

Here's the old method for breaking in a leather strop using lather and a glass bottle:

First, separate the leather from the canvas strop. If you have the IRS Co type strop this is easy to do. Just unscrew the nut holding the strops together. Place the leather strop on a flat surface. A flat board with a nail at one end to secure the strop works well.

Using a smooth glass bottle (An empty beer bottle with the label removed works very well. Be sure to use the side without the mold seam) -

Rub thick shaving lather into the leather for approximately 20-30 minutes. I use Williams' since that was most likely the shave soap available to barbers when this method of breaking in was developed. Keep the strop coated with lather the entire time. 20-30 minutes is the old time method. I've found you can get away with 10-15 minutes of rubbing. Just rub the bottle back and forth the entire length of the strop. Use enough pressure to work the lather into the leather.

Wipe all lather from the strop with a moist cloth. Apply a small amount of strop DRESSING (not paste!!) to cover the strop. Rub the dressing into the leather with the bottle for about 15 minutes (5-10 min if you are trying the abbreviated version).

Next, following the strop dressing application, apply thick lather and rub into leather as in the first step for about 15 min.

Using a moist cloth, wipe all excess lather from the strop. Wipe down with a dry cloth, then dust with shave talc evenly (I use Pinauds). Let the strop dry on a flat surface for 24 hours then reassemble your strop.

The strop becomes much more pliable after this treatment.

Periodically (once a week - once a month) it is also helpful to make up some rich (thick) lather and coat the leather (canvas removed) leaving to dry over night. In the AM just rub the dried lather off of the strop. This will condition the leather and improve draw.

The only issue I have with that, is that the modern Williams is nothing at all like the Wiliams of old.

Originally Posted by honedright

Here's the old method for breaking in a leather strop using lather and a glass bottle:

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Thanks for the detailed account. I had definitely read of that method long ago but didn't remember it in detail until your post. Now I know why I never tried it. Rubbing lather into a strop for fifteen or twenty minutes is more work than I am prepared to do for softening a strop. Call me lazy.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Thanks for the detailed account. I had definitely read of that method long ago but didn't remember it in detail until your post. Now I know why I never tried it. Rubbing lather into a strop for fifteen or twenty minutes is more work than I am prepared to do for softening a strop. Call me lazy.

I'm lazy too! Lathering/rubbing for about 5 minutes worked great for me.

I only did it for less than five minutes.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I'm lazy too! Lathering/rubbing for about 5 minutes worked great for me.

Yes, I found that the amount of bottle rubbing can be reduced and still have a good effect on the strop.

The first time I tried this method I did go the full 15-20 minutes just because I wanted to try it per the directions. It's not a fun process.

The second treatment, brushing lather on the leather and letting it dry, is very easy and the results are quite nice.

I find this interesting. I have always been told that soap breaks down the leather and if not completely removed from the leather that it would "rot" it. I am not doubting you guys because someone might have been BS ing me.


Take Care,
Richard

I wiped off the soap after working it in and let the hone dry. Good results here.

I did this for a piece of leather I used for a paddle strop I just made. It worked well enough for me.