Thread: Strop Cleaning

Hi everyone in the internet. Well the time has come for me to clean my strop and I would like to know the protocol for how to go about this. When I first started using a straight I bought lynns DVD and found it in credibly helpful but alas, my brother stepped on it after knocking it off the shelf and now it has been KIA. This is my first time cleaning my strop and I would really like to do it correctly. I already have some saddle soap and some "Leather Honey" conditioner. I bought a strop from SRD and I love it so I want to make sure that I do this right.

I was not aware that strops needed cleaning.

I tend to agree with the above. What is it you are trying to clean off of it?

I would avoid using anything on a strop except a slightly damp cloth.

If you are worried about the darkening of the strop, that's it coming into it's own. Leave it alone and let it mature...

Is the strop that dirty? Once in a while I will pick up a vintage strop that needs some TLC, take it apart, clean the leather with a damp cloth and the saddle soap and give it a couple of days to air dry, no heat, no sunlight. After that add some neatsfoot oil or something similar to keep the leather supple. If it is one of Lynns SRD strops, I would use a damp cloth to clean the webbing, let it air dry as well and re assemble when it is finished drying. I hope this helps.

You did say, SRD Strop...I wouldn't take anything to that, especially Saddle soap. SRD strops are high quality leather. All I ever do is rub them with the palm of my oily hand. Do not wash your hands first....That's it. That's all they need. If you start messing with, You may ruin it. Like Nun2sharp said, If it's a vintage strop, that's different. They may need some TLC, but not SRD....Strops get better with age, they break in, season a little....Don't mess with what works...

Yes a hands off policy is the best one. As long as its soft and supple just some conditioner or oil from your hand is all you need to do. Let it age gracefully by itself. It will only get better.

Glad I asked first.. I absolutly love the strop and it has been really good to me so far. I have owned the strop for nearly two years but it seems to be losing some of its pliability, I do rub down the strop before I use it with the palm of my hand. I was under the impression that if you notice some stiffness it should be cleaned before applying leather conditioner. the other reason i wanted to do this is because it seems to be developing a slight concavity along the length of the strop. So if cleaning isnt a good idea what should I do?

I agree with leaving it the alone and keep on hand rubbing, it's SHOULD be all that's needed, BUT if you really feel it's loosing it pliability I would contact either Don or Lynn A. about it and see just what they say about it, they would be the experts on the strops they sell. Good choice in buying a strop by the way, excellent leather at SRD!!

tinkersd of SRP!