Thread: Osgar No.5 Shell horsehide

I've a vintage Osgar No.5 SHELL HORSEHIDE (double belt, no cloth).
It's very dry, but the leather is in quite good condition (I think).
I' wondering if the following will bring life to it.
I'm going to hand wash it in some dishwashing soap. Once it's dry I'll polish it with some vaseline oil.
Will such treatment bring it back to the work condition ?

I don't know but I'll link to a couple of threads with good info if you go through them. Pay particular attention to the posts in each thread by Neil Miller. He is a strop maker and has a lot of experience with leather, both new and vintage.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ing-strop.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-its-draw.html

I don't know about using the dishwasher soap on leather as it is made to remove grease and oils and that is the last thing you would want to do if the leather is dry. I would try and find some saddle soap which is made for cleaning leather and go over the leather with that. Once it is thoroughly dry apply a small amount of Neets Foot Oil and rub it in by hand. Once that is dry may be do another application of the oil if it is still too dry.

Bob

I would not use dish soap on it, nor would I use vasiline oil on it, I would do what Jimmy suggested.

I would recommend firing a PM to hidestoart - another highly skilled in leather & makes gorgeous strops.

i would rub the front with a damp rag then let it dry naturally. then apply neatsfoot oil to the underside of the strop and rub in thoroughly with a rag