Thread: Treating Strops

I've read recommendations for Neats Foot Oil treatment... A small amount rubbed in with the palm.

The TM Latigo doesn't need any more oil than it came with, but the SRD Premium I could possibly use a dab infrequently.
So, the question is this... I've recently been reading about yellow paste, with no abrasive qualities, and a better strop treatment than Neats Foot Oil.
Does anyone with experience with both have a preference, or is it a question of "six of one or half dozen of the other?"

I don't know for certain, having never used it, but I have heard that the yellow paste is basically just natural fats and oils. If you are going to use neatsfoot, be very sparing with it. Too much is a bad thing. I would say use a leather dressing containing neatsfoot rather than straight neatsfoot itself. It would be cheaper than the paste as well I'd reckon.


Mick

I've used Neatsfoot, but not any Dovo paste. Regarding what you use, be careful to distribute it uniformly. The easiest way to do that is to spread it on your hands and then rub it on the back side of the strop. The oils will be absorbed in without altering the stropping surface. With time, the oil will work its way to the surface.

For strop conditioning, I think it's best to use the same advice Lynn gives for honing--"less is more."

Ive never used the paste so cant comment on it , as for neatsfoot I agree with Mick use it "sparingly" if at all , infact I wont put it on a strop ever ..If your strop is dry and brittle saddle soap or similar would be a better choice , but if its still supple and in ok nick , a bita lather on it now an then is all I would use , and a good rub down just with your hand any time ya walk by it as the oils "seivin" in ya hand will keep it in good order and the lather will impove the draw

Originally Posted by Utopian

I've used Neatsfoot, but not any Dovo paste. Regarding what you use, be careful to distribute it uniformly. The easiest way to do that is to spread it on your hands and then rub it on the back side of the strop. The oils will be absorbed in without altering the stropping surface. With time, the oil will work its way to the surface.

For strop conditioning, I think it's best to use the same advice Lynn gives for honing--"less is more."

+1... Unless you want to alter the draw of your strop the oil/fat should be applied to the back of the strop.

The only treatment I ever have done to a strop was brushing lather on it and rubbing it in with a glass bottle and then wiping it off and rubbing my palm into the leather.