Thread: Put life back into and old strop

Is there anyway to bring and old strop "back to life". I found my great-grandfathers strop, which is in good condition. No tears, nicks, creases, etc. It is pliable, but dry. Would applying mink oil to the leather bring it back to good condition? The linen on the back is no longer usable. The leather is horse.

Thanks

Is the linen just dirty?

I have used mink oil and neatsfoot. I liked the neatsfoot better.

The last strop i cleaned up.. I used saddle soap on it first, then neatsfoot oil.

Originally Posted by LERigney

Is there anyway to bring and old strop "back to life". I found my great-grandfathers strop, which is in good condition. No tears, nicks, creases, etc. It is pliable, but dry. Would applying mink oil to the leather bring it back to good condition? The linen on the back is no longer usable. The leather is horse.

Thanks

If it's JUST dry, I wouldn't use neatsfoot, since that would increase the draw -possibly- when it is back to healthy... depending on what kind of leather it is, you could just take any glycerin soap, whip up a lather, and then rub lather into the strop... Hell, if you're a face latherer, just lather on top of the strop. Lather is great treatment for my Latigo, but I haven't tried it on horse/shell yet..

When i cleaned up my DD shell strop, i actually used tabac on it.

Originally Posted by ShavedZombie

If it's JUST dry, I wouldn't use neatsfoot, since that would increase the draw -possibly- when it is back to healthy... depending on what kind of leather it is, you could just take any glycerin soap, whip up a lather, and then rub lather into the strop... Hell, if you're a face latherer, just lather on top of the strop. Lather is great treatment for my Latigo, but I haven't tried it on horse/shell yet..

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

When i cleaned up my DD shell strop, i actually used tabac on it.

It would seem that lather works for Latigo, bridle and shell, then Thanks, Slart

If your grandfather was a smoker, be prepared for the smell when you clean the leather.....

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

If your grandfather was a smoker, be prepared for the smell when you clean the leather.....

If he was a pipe smoker it might be a bonus. Everything I own is permeated with the aroma of pipe tobacco. When I list anything on ebay I have to enter a disclaimer that if that is going to bother you do not bid.

I've never used lather on a strop. I've got a vintage duck that needs some attention and I have to give it a try.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If he was a pipe smoker it might be a bonus. Everything I own is permeated with the aroma of pipe tobacco. When I list anything on ebay I have to enter a disclaimer that if that is going to bother you do not bid.

I've never used lather on a strop. I've got a vintage duck that needs some attention and I have to give it a try.

I tried it with Mama Bear's (since her's are some of the slickest I've found) and it worked great. A little more draw, strop is much more supple, and feels "healthy"

Decades of cig smoke was not too pleasant though... let me tell ya

Yeah, i did tabac. Then ended up appying neatsfoot twice i think. My favorite strop now.

I rubbed tabac into the "firehose linen" strop on it every night for about 4 days i think and it softened back up and is like new again.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If he was a pipe smoker it might be a bonus. Everything I own is permeated with the aroma of pipe tobacco. When I list anything on ebay I have to enter a disclaimer that if that is going to bother you do not bid.

I've never used lather on a strop. I've got a vintage duck that needs some attention and I have to give it a try.

The linen looks like it has been folded, even though it was laid straight when i found it. There are about 6 deep creases in the linen. My Gr8Grandfather was a pipe smoker, and I love the smell of his pipe that I have. Really looking forward to trying to get it back to working order now.

Thanks for the advice