Thread: Condition a strop with soap?

In another thread found here the OP posted a link to a shaving how-to book from 1905. on page 39 of that ebook the author talks about how to condition a strop that has become glazed or is smooth with no draw. To remedy this, the author says to work lather (i assume he means shave soap lather) into the strop until it is saturated, then allow it to dry. I tried it on a scrap piece of leather and it does add some drag for my fingers. Has anyone tried this on their strop yet?

I've done this on both my strops...just used a glass bottle to work the shave lather in, wiped off the excess and let it dry...then used a little bit of strop dressing to recondition...it works

Here is a thread with some good info on that practice. Check out Honedright's post especially since he apparently has a lot of experience with it. I've never used that treatment on vintage or new strops since I never felt the need. I don't have a firsthand opinion to offer on the efficacy but there are some in that thread who do.

I'm with Jimmy, I wouldn't do it to any good strops, that's for sure. Maybe an old crappy strop. I've seen the practice myself with Williams soap, and I don't agree with it. Soap and Leather? I have old Scotch Shell, Cordovan strop that is meant to be slick, I wouldn't ruin the finish by rubbing soap on it. The result is not going to make much of a difference anyway. YMMV
It's your strop, consider too, the soaps from 1905 are quite a bit different from those made today.

Yeah I think I ruined my decent dovo strop doing it a few weeks back, feels like plastic or something.

why not just use saddle soap instead?

I'm afraid to count them, but based on having something like 15 to 20 strops .... like any normal person ... both vintage and current. I've never even put neatsfoot on a leather strop. Never washed one with saddle soap or shaving soap. I rub them with the palm of my hand every so often and all but one of them work fine.

I do have one dubl duck I got off of the bay that needs some TLC and that is the one I planned to try the shaving soap and bottle on. It won't make the old thing any worse so I can't lose one way or the other and some day I may actually try it but if your strop is working don't fix it. Just IMHO

I have done this with my junk store strop using vdh(walmart shave soap). Strop was slick, stiff and had a shine to it. This worked well with no ill effects. After a few months of heavy use the strop is still soft and flexible.
others have had same results as the thread Jimmy posted shows. If you are not dealing with a high dollar stop I say go for it. Worked for me


Peace,
Peter B.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I'm afraid to count them, but based on having something like 15 to 20 strops .... like any normal person ... both vintage and current. I've never even put neatsfoot on a leather strop. Never washed one with saddle soap or shaving soap. I rub them with the palm of my hand every so often and all but one of them work fine.

+1. I couldn't agree more. I also have just as many strops, and have done the exact same thing, Nothing, but rub them with the palm of my hand.
They all work fine. Some have more draw, some have less, but they work wonderfully, I'd never even think of rubbing soap on any piece of quality leather.

I have used saddle soap on a couple of old strops that had what could only be called nasty gunk on them. The saddle soap worked to clean them up and it also softened them. In my opinion, given the variety of ingredients in soap, I wouldn't use just any soap. If you want to use soap, then it seems to me to use the one that is made specifically for leather. The stuff is cheap and can be found pretty much anywhere leather shoes and shoe polish are sold.