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Thread: Glycerine as strop conditioner

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    Senior Member Tuxedo7's Avatar
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    Default Glycerine as strop conditioner

    Just thought I'd pass a recommendation along from an old leather expert (he's not old, only the leather ). I've seen a lot of recommendations for conditioning strops on the forum, and this relates, I think, and I would appreciate any thoughts or feedback.

    I like old motorcycles, and one of the big debates/discussions in old motorcycle forums is how to restore old leather seats, saddlebags, etc. A couple of guys who are the gurus of motorcycle leather restoration swear that the only thing you should use on old leather ... either to restore it or to maintain it, is glycerine. All other solutions seem to bring up their ire ... neatsfoot oil, saddle soap, murphy's oil, mink oil, etc. Their concerns are around either synthetic additives that will ultimately degrade the leather, or more natural oils that will keep the leather from "breathing". Glycerine is a natural humectant that literally draws moisture from the air that keeps the leather from drying out (or replacing the lost moisture on dry leather) without the oil or synthetics.

    I have recently purchased a vintage strop and am planning on cleaning it (as it seems to be a little "sticky"), and then will probably apply some glycerine. I'll report on the results once I've done this ... in the meantime, any experience or opinions are appreciated.

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    Senior Member basil's Avatar
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    I use neatsfoot oil or mink oil on my strop.

    But would love to hear how the glycerine works out!
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    Senior Member hendersr's Avatar
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    I would like to hear how it goes as well. What sort of glycerine are you using the liquid form you use in cooking?

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    Senior Member Tuxedo7's Avatar
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    Using the veterinary product ... one of its uses is for applying to dry skin ... like sometimes elbows get dried and scaly ... just put a little glycerine on them, and it goes away. And unlike oily products, the results last a long time since the glycerine is absorbed, and keeps pulling moisture as long as it's there.

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    Predictably Unpredictiable Mvcrash's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tuxedo7 View Post
    Using the veterinary product ... one of its uses is for applying to dry skin ... like sometimes elbows get dried and scaly ... just put a little glycerine on them, and it goes away. And unlike oily products, the results last a long time since the glycerine is absorbed, and keeps pulling moisture as long as it's there.

    Old tile guys use Corn Huskers Oil which is mostly glycerin, Works great on hands and elbows, don't know about leather.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tuxedo7 View Post
    Using the veterinary product ... one of its uses is for applying to dry skin ... like sometimes elbows get dried and scaly ... just put a little glycerine on them, and it goes away. And unlike oily products, the results last a long time since the glycerine is absorbed, and keeps pulling moisture as long as it's there.
    Yes but do you want something on your strop that pulls moisture into it? Conditioned leather ain't the same as living tissue.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Leather needs a certain amount of moisture in it to keep it pliable, that's why a 'breathable' surface loses moisture, dries out and becomes brittle. I can see that glycerine helps - it is used during the tanning process to encourage a calculated amount of moisture retention, but I'm not sure about loading a strop with it and then using it in a humid bathroom - can't imagine what that would do to the draw!

    Most of us have used glycerine on strops whether we intended to or not - it is in a lot of shaving soaps used to lather strops with and in saddle soaps - but only in small amounts and with other ingredients. Saddle soap has glycerine and neatsfoot oil in it, for example, so it will moisturise and seal the leather.

    Like thebigspendur says, a strop is dead. You can't apply the same laws to it as living tissue. The only thing I would add is that there have been people stropping razors long before there have been big burly bikers worried about their chapped saddle bags!

    Regards,
    Neil

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    I heard some peolple say they just rub their palms across it every day to rub in their own oils and brisk rubbing to soften the hide.

    I don't know... I'm a newb, but I heard it somewhere and that's what I do. After all... I can only put so much stuff on my sinktop.

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    Quote Originally Posted by groundrush View Post
    I heard some peolple say they just rub their palms across it every day to rub in their own oils and brisk rubbing to soften the hide.

    I don't know... I'm a newb, but I heard it somewhere and that's what I do. After all... I can only put so much stuff on my sinktop.
    Yes, that's very true. It's the original way most barbers maintained their strops.
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    Senior Member Tuxedo7's Avatar
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    Thanks for all the thoughtful input. Wanted to provide an interim update. As I mentioned before, a strop I purchased recently seemed to be a bit "sticky" with some built up "residue" ... maybe years of conditioner/neats foot oil, etc.

    Anyway, I used a damp rag with shave soap to clean it (note - damp rag, and not water, as I didn't want to soak the leather). Anyway, after a pretty good cleaning, I noticed a couple of nicks and a shallow surface slice that had been covered/filled by the built up residue.

    Once clean, I let the surface dry for 24 hours. At this point, the strop had lost its stickiness, and seemed to have a better surface for stropping, but the now exposed "crinkles", nicks, etc. made the stropping surface less than ideal. This morning I applied a light coat of glycerine to the surface (front, back and side edges), and within about a half-hour, the strop seemed to be supple with the various imperfections being made much less prominent, and the stropping surface seeming to be very smooth. I was tempted to strop a razor at that point, but held off. At this point, I had to get to work, but will take a look this evening, and see if the results are more than temporary. I'll also strop a razor and get a sense for any improvement in draw and razor edge improvement.

    By the way, I agree with others above that I don't think the glycerine should be lathered on ... just as with any conditioner. It's always a temptation to overdo a good thing. I also think the point about where you keep your strop (i.e., steamy bathroom) should be considered ... you wouldn't want a glycerined strop to be hanging in a damp place to draw too much moisture and potentialy mildew or rot the strop.

    Thanks again to all for the input. More to come this evening or tomorrow on my results.

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