New Strop Help

I recently purchased my first razor and strop. My concern is that the leather on my strop is too stiff. I have read on here about the need to dress a strop, etc. and about how usually there is little that needs to be done.

My strop is an Illinois 127. It feels stiff like a new baseball glove. Should it be more supple? I have some good leather conditioner that I have used on leather. Would this be appropriate to use?

Tandy Leather Factory - Dr. Jackson's Hide Rejuvenator

Also, how supple should the leather feel? Like a well broken in glove? I haven't seen a good example of a strop, so I don't really have a good frame of reference.

Any help for a newbie would be appreciated.

I should also mention that I have saddle soap if that would be OK to use on it.

All strop leathers feel a bit differently. Before applying anything to the leather, I would just rub it 50 to 100 times lightly with the palm of my hand before stropping. Also, try doing this when you walk by the strop during the day. This will help deposit your own oils into the leather, rather than using a prepared product.

Leather will also break in with use.

Personally, I'd stay away from the dressings and such, at least for now. Give it some time.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by hsudandy

I should also mention that I have saddle soap if that would be OK to use on it.

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From what I understand, saddle soap is too harsh for use on strops.

Skippy its not that saddle soap is to harsh on strops its just not meant to break in a strop. I have used saddle soap a couple times clean strops with no bad results. Its just after you use the saddle soap you will need to use some type of strop dressing to put some oils back into the strop as the soap will take alot of the oils already in the strop out.

Now hsudandy I have heard that the illinois strops tend to be on the stiff side when you first buy them but that after use they do break in nicely and that a strop dressing helps to speed the breaking in time. What I would do is use a very small amount of the hide rejuvenator you have on the back of the leather part of your strop and work it in good then use the strop like normal for a couple of days and if you think it needs more add some more to the back and work it in. Also like Maxi said rubing down the strop with an unwashed hand will in part alot of your skins natural oils into the strop a soften it up a bit which is how alot of guys maintan thier strops on here.

Good luck and have fun

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Originally Posted by Castel33

Skippy its not that saddle soap is to harsh on strops its just not meant to break in a strop. I have used saddle soap a couple times clean strops with no bad results. Its just after you use the saddle soap you will need to use some type of strop dressing to put some oils back into the strop as the soap will take alot of the oils already in the strop out.

Now hsudandy I have heard that the illinois strops tend to be on the stiff side when you first buy them but that after use they do break in nicely and that a strop dressing helps to speed the breaking in time. What I would do is use a very small amount of the hide rejuvenator you have on the back of the leather part of your strop and work it in good then use the strop like normal for a couple of days and if you think it needs more add some more to the back and work it in. Also like Maxi said rubing down the strop with an unwashed hand will in part alot of your skins natural oils into the strop a soften it up a bit which is how alot of guys maintan thier strops on here.

Good luck and have fun

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Oh, that makes sense.

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Originally Posted by Skippy

From what I understand, saddle soap is too harsh for use on strops.

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Not true. I have used saddle soap on several used strops to clean them up, nothing works better.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Not true. I have used saddle soap on several used strops to clean them up, nothing works better.

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I guess I was wrong then.

I don't like saddle soap. Its not the soap that I have a problem with it's water you have to use. Water and leather (except certain specific types) don't go well together. Saddle soap was developed to use on very tough stiff leathers like a saddle. It's great for that. I know guys use it and love it but not me. Now if they made a saddle soap paste where you didn't need water I might like that.

I would rather use some neatsfoot oil or quality conditioner like bick or as has been said the oil from your hand.

I piled some lather on my Illinois 127, and it not only made it seem softer and more "friendly" to the blade but also considerably increased the draw. The only downside has been that I have to wipe the blade off after stropping, but the resulting edges have been great.

Whenever I purchase new leather I am always concerned about the length of time it has been on the shelf at the tannery, wholesaler & retailer. I think it may have dried out a bit? Plus, was the leather prepared for use as a strop? probably not. So, I apply a coating of neatsfoot oil to both the front & back of the strop. So far, so good.

Get yourself a smooth straight sided bottle, like a wine bottle. Grab your strop, let it hand loose so it bows/curves a bit and run the bottle up and down the strop a hundred or two times. That will loosen up the leather a bit.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I don't like saddle soap. Its not the soap that I have a problem with it's water you have to use. Water and leather (except certain specific types) don't go well together. Saddle soap was developed to use on very tough stiff leathers like a saddle. It's great for that. I know guys use it and love it but not me. Now if they made a saddle soap paste where you didn't need water I might like that.

I would rather use some neatsfoot oil or quality conditioner like bick or as has been said the oil from your hand.

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Ah yes, that's what I heard.

I'm a "Senior Member" now, Yay!

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Originally Posted by Skippy

I'm a "Senior Member" now, Yay!

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Got any big plans? Whatcha gonna do with that senior discount you have now?

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Got any big plans? Whatcha gonna do with that senior discount you have now?

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Whatcha say?