Thread: Slick Strop

I got a vintage strop that I wanted to linen from since I wanted to try the vintage linen compared to the cotton. Anyway the leather looked good so figured it was a bonus, but it is quite slick with virtually no draw. This is my first attempt at trying to refurbish a strop. The strop wasn't really stiff or anything just slick. I cleaned up the strop with saddle soap and it didn't have an effect on it other than removing quite a bit of dirt and a nasty smell. After reading some posts figured I would try some neatsfoot oil. Not really sure what is considered alot of oil, but I rubbed about a teaspoon of oil (which seems like alot to me) on it so far and it just soaked it up. The oil treatment was spread out over a few days with alittle rubbing and then letting it sit for a day and so on. Was wondering if I should use more oil or try sanding it down? Figure if it can't be saved I still have the linen which is why I got it in the first place, but can't hurt to try and save the leather. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

It is probably horse hide and horse hide is slick with very little draw compared to bovine. Neatsfoot will increase draw. If the strop is supple, not stiff it is probably as it should be. I would sell it to someone who might like the draw, or lack of draw, rather than sand it down. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as my Mom used to say. Strop on it a week and you'll be used to it. I use horse with little or no draw cause that's what I like.

I'm not sure I understand the question. Do you think if a strop is slick it needs fixing ? As above some of us like that.

Find that finding a strop that meets your and your razors needs isn't easy.
Right now I'm using a vintage horse - very little feel. A vintage linen, that came with it, chalk on one side.
And a surprise to me a strop that was part of a razor deal. New 'Artist' made thought to be buffalo. Lots of feel on both sides. Has become my go to strop. Also part of the deal was a pasted cotton belting strop. Fantastic for touch ups. Can easily see why some shavers say all you need is a pasted strop to keep a ready razor shavable for a long time.

I just figured that it would have some sort of draw and not so slick. Guess I can give it a while and see how it works with my razors. It just seems like it wouldn't help any for how slick it is. I am just not used to a slick strop since the ones I have have some draw.

Sanding it may ruin the leather if it is horse. The first layer is very thin and there is nothing but suede on the other side of that. I carefully took some 1000 grit to mine to make it smoother. I wouldn't add anymore oil to it either. It's just as bad as too dry. If you rub it hard with your hand before you use it you may get more feedback. Mine gets better after about the fourth razor. I sit down and do about 7 to 14 at a time. You will learn to feel the light draw after awhile.

Funny that you said that about 7-14 razors cause I just stropped 7 to see what it would do. I was mistaken it is more of a silky smoothness rather than slick. It just seemed weird cause the backside was actually soft feeling to my fingers with a knurled look. I guess my other strops have a medium-heavy draw and didn't realize it. Now to just polish up the buckle, put it back together and put it to use.

A teaspoon of neatsfoot is like a river. It's way too much. All you need is a couple of drops and work it in.

Old time barbers of course had their strops hanging down on the side of the barbers chair. Most of those strops were so slick and shiny you could almost see your reflection in it. All they did is an occasional working of the strop with oil from their hands. If you have your strop long enough and use it enough it will develop a polish too.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I use horse with little or no draw cause that's what I like.

Ditto that, it's the destination. Fresh horween is like that, and does magical things to a razor. plain horse butt that's just gotten off of a horse butt strip (as in, a make it yourself strop) will get there as will other harder leathers, but they don't start like that new like horween does.

In my experience, the slick no draw strops that develop a shiny finish on the surface (or come with it like the horween) preserve the keenness of a very finely finished edge the best, and without any discomfort.

The only trouble with going the cheap route and ordering a horse butt strip is they are stiff and abrasive to start, and it takes about 100 shaves before they gloss over and get really slick, but once a good non-wrinlked piece is broken in like that, it's as good as anything you can buy.

The horween goes the other way, whatever they do to the surface wears off and fairly quickly, probably expect a few years of good use out of one before the surface is pretty scuffed and it's OK but not superb.

DON'T SAND OFF THE SLICKNESS, THOUGH