Thread: Proraso shave cream on my strop

Just spread some Proraso lather on my Filly strop today! I think it made a big difference in both the feel and sound!

This may be the answer to my stropping as before I felt no "draw". Now it makes a "zing" sound when the blade is flat.

I've read posts before about spreading soap or shave cream on leather, an old Barber's trick.. I don't agree with it. Soap normally has a "drying effect" Leather needs conditioning, like Neetsfoot Oil, Leather or Strop conditioner, even Mink oil. Most strop retailers/manufacturers recommend just rubbing it with the palm of your hand...

I realize of course some soaps and shave creams have lanolin and maybe another moisturizer, but it's the other stuff that would worry me. I'd recommend conditioning it with one of the items I've mentioned.

I have to agree with the op, my strop has definatly become better since i used some shaving cream to clean it up, only ever done it twice, but the both times i could see the benefits.

I thought about using bear grease (similar to mink oil), but just read the 1905 book on Shaving, and wanted to do it the "old timey" way. A bit of bravado perhaps, but then so is using a straight razor!!!

Perhaps it was easier to jump into it due to the inexpense of it on a "practice" strop, but I think it will be my method of choice from now on....

Now and again, I clean my leather strop with saddle soap.
Then I give it a light treatment of neatsfoot oil.
Finally, I rub in some shaving lather and polish the surface with a glass bottle.

The saddle soap cleans it up, the oil keeps it supple and
free of cracks, and the lather treatment increases the
draw.

The whole process results in a noticably better "draw",
and a better edge on the razor.

I don't like a slick strop...I like the feedback from a
strop with good draw.

Cheers,
Paul

Originally Posted by PaulKidd

Now and again, I clean my leather strop with saddle soap.
Then I give it a light treatment of neatsfoot oil.
Finally, I rub in some shaving lather and polish the surface with a glass bottle.

The saddle soap cleans it up, the oil keeps it supple and
free of cracks, and the lather treatment increases the
draw.

The whole process results in a noticably better "draw",
and a better edge on the razor.

I don't like a slick strop...I like the feedback from a
strop with good draw.

Cheers,
Paul

Sounds like that covers all the bases!

Dont know that I agree with soaping a strop. I did it once to clean up a vintage strop. It nearly ruined it. Saddle soap is a little different since it is made for leather but I would not use a shaving soap. The easiest way to adjust the draw on a strop is to purchase one with the desired amount of draw to start with instead of artificially modifying it. That is why we have latigo, buffalo, horse, bridal.... strops. Each has its own draw weight and finishing effect.

As long as the strop is kept in good order, it will retain its draw for a lifetime, or two. That often means dont keep it in a steam filled bathroom. A very, very light application of neats foot oil once every year of two is all it takes. One of my favorite strops is on its second generation and still as good as the day it was purchased.

I've cleaned a strop with shave soap & used mink oil afterwards...but that's it.