Thread: Leather Conditioner??

I've seen all sorts of talk about using Neatsfoot oil on a strop to keep the leather happy over time. Now I have a question, would it be ok to use something like Hide Food from Jaguar (automobile) to keep the leather in good shape or would this make for an unhappy strop? Just received a SRD Red Latigo 3" strop and I want to make sure I dont kill it before its due time. After seeing it used on the leather seats of an old Benz the leather was quite soft and somewhat tacky for a short while but remained soft.

I would assume that it would be fine, but I would strongly recommend not applying it anyway. Latigo is impregnated with oils that should make it unnecessary for years. If you simply rub the strop with the palm of your hand, then you will transfer all of the oil the strop should ever need.

If you persist in your desire to oil it, then understand this. Almost everyone who oils their strop for the first time ends up overdoing it. This tends to lead to patchy spots that have more oil than other regions, and it also ends up producing too much draw. If you want to avoid this, you need to do two things.

First, don't apply the oil directly to the strop but instead put a small amount of it on your hand, rub it between your hands, and then use a towel to hold the strop with one oiled hand and rub your other hand on the strop to uniformly distribute oil. Then rub the strop with your other hand.

Second, that application should only occur on the BACK of the strop--the surface on which you do NOT strop. It is better to do a few applications over the course of a few weeks rather than to overdo one application. The reason for applying to the back of the strop is that the oil will be absorbed in and will spread within the leather but it will not negatively affect the stropping surface.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I would assume that it would be fine, but I would strongly recommend not applying it anyway. Latigo is impregnated with oils that should make it unnecessary for years. If you simply rub the strop with the palm of your hand, then you will transfer all of the oil the strop should ever need.

If you persist in your desire to oil it, then understand this. Almost everyone who oils their strop for the first time ends up overdoing it. This tends to lead to patchy spots that have more oil than other regions, and it also ends up producing too much draw. If you want to avoid this, you need to do two things.

First, don't apply the oil directly to the strop but instead put a small amount of it on your hand, rub it between your hands, and then use a towel to hold the strop with one oiled hand and rub your other hand on the strop to uniformly distribute oil. Then rub the strop with your other hand.

Second, that application should only occur on the BACK of the strop--the surface on which you do NOT strop. It is better to do a few applications over the course of a few weeks rather than to overdo one application. The reason for applying to the back of the strop is that the oil will be absorbed in and will spread within the leather but it will not negatively affect the stropping surface.

Great tips! I just picked up a vintage shell strop, and will be going through this soon. Like you said, I would rather take my time and do it correctly. Just one question: When doing this, how long should I wait before deciding on another application?

Realistically, you could probably do it every day, but I would use the strop for a few days between applications. Patience will help prevent you from overdoing it and giving the chance for the oil to stabilize within the strop.

I have to agree completely with Mr.U
I have many strops, some quite old. I've never done anything to them, except rub them with the palm of my hand. Like he said, most folks that treat their strops, tend to over do it, and can actually ruin the strop...Latigo is treated to begin with, it requires no maintenance other than rubbing it with "Unwashed" hands from time to time.

Okie dokie! Definitely wont be applying any foreign substance to my lovely latigo then. Always good to gather knowledge on these things! Thanks to all for the feedback.

Great information. Thank you.

When you are refering to rubbing the strop with your palm (unwashed hands) do you mean to the stropping side or the reverse side?

Thanks

Originally Posted by YaDave

When you are refering to rubbing the strop with your palm (unwashed hands) do you mean to the stropping side or the reverse side?

Thanks

the stropping side, the idea is the skin is naturally oily and the strop will take the oils in.

It may sound really gross, but it does help if you run your hand through your hair a few times before palm-rubbing your strop. The oils will transfer to your hands and then to the strop.

That's assuming, of course, that you have hair to run your hands through