Thread: Illinois 827 Russian Strop

When I bought my Illinois 827 strop (20 years ago),
I gave it a "quick" break-in treatment:

1) On the linen side, rub in some shaving soap (not
lather) and polish with a glass bottle

2) On the leather side, rub in some commercial strop
dressing or neatsfoot oil (NOT honing paste!), and
polish with a glass bottle

3) Do as nun2sharp says: strop the hell out of it with
the back of a butter knife...limber it up

4) Do as many recommend: each day, run the palm or
the heel of your hand up and down the strop a bunch
of times before stropping your razor.

The 827 has served me well. Just keep it clean and
give it the dressing/oil/polish treatment now and
again, and it should do the same for you.

Paul