Thread: Caring for a Strop

Good Evening Gents,

With so many fine, intelligible, gentlemen at the disposal of a neophyte I could not help but ask this question. What is the proper way to care for an maintain a strop—giving it the same delicate care and attention that is emphasized on the blade itself. Is hand rubbing sufficient? Is there a conditioning paste I should buy? If so, how should it be used?

While I anticipate that I will purchase additional strops in the future it would be meaningful to have my first set of tools last me a lifetime.

Many thanks in advance.

All you need to keep your stop in working condition is a good palm rubbing. If the strop happens to dry out too much, neatsfoot oil(used sparingly) can bring the suppleness back.

Agreed to that. Buy a good quality strop also. Don't go old or cheap. When learning to shave we advise to get a good quality razor honed to a true "shave ready". I would advise the same for a good strop. Reputible stores like classic or SRD or others can sell a good quality strop at a good price.

I'm with these two fine, intelligible gentlemen.

1) A good quality strop
2) Daily hand rubbing (you don't need to go crazy on the pressure...just transfer the oils from your skin to the leather).
3) IMO, avoid topical treatments such as Fromm dressing, oils, etc. Once it goes in, it doesn't come out.

I can just echo what's already been said, with a quality strop all you need is a good palm rubbing before each use.

I would agree that for every day use and break-in, a good hand rubbing until the palm of your hand feels warm daily is all that is needed. If your strop, starts to get stiff, then working in a minimal amount of neats foot oil either sparing on the front or back of the leather will work. I find that most times people put too much of the paste products on a strop and it simply cakes it up making it sticky and not very usable. If you do use the pastes or dressings, less is better.

Have fun.

Isn't that why there's a Linen part to the Strop?

I like strops and have 7 of them. I rotate evenly through all of them and I shave every day. I've never applied anything to my strops other than a palm rubbing prior to each stropping session. I have some neatsfoot oil, which I got from SRP, for my horsehide strop. Horsehide has such a light draw that many consider it too slick. The neatsfoot is recommended to add some draw to the horsehide. However, I've never had to use it.