Breaking in leather for strop

[walto]

I just got cowhide leather (2,5mm thick) and cut out a strip of 75mm width and 550mm lenght. I want to use this as hanging strop. I am not sure if I want to apply pastes or use it without pastes.
Some people recommend to break in the leather. I found differnt techniques for that task. Some use sandpaper (600 grit) or pumice stone. Some apply lather and rub this in. Some rub a smooth glass bottle over the strop.
I would like to know if breaking in is necessary and which technique is recommended. How does the leather change during the breaking process?

 

[Thebigspendur]

You didn't say whether the leather is raw unfinished or finished. Most strop leathers are finished and have one of several different finishes on it like say russian.

Breaking in is another story. I find if the leather is well finished you don't need to do anything to it. There is no break-in.

 

[walto]

I don't know if the leather is finished. I bought a piece of cowhide leather. So I would say it is a peice of raw leather.The leather is tanned an the surface is even. No bumps or whatsoever.

 

[Thebigspendur]

Without seeing it or a foto its hard to tell you. In general if its perfectly smooth with no bumps or creases or fat marks then you should be good. depending on the stiffness or degree of finishing you may or may not need to do some break-in. Try it on a junk razor and see what happens.

 

[walto]

Here is a close up picture of the leather:

 

[cityjim]

Did this come from Google Earth ?


Rub your oily hand over the leather to warm it up before shaving . That's all you will ever need .



cityjim

 

[walto]

Did this come from Google Earth ?
cityjim

I thought nobody will find out when I post a satellite photo from the gobi desert.

I sanded the surface with 600 grit sandpaper and applied snow seal. The color got darker and I get more draw from the strop.

 

[khaos]

neats foot oil will go a long way

 

[English]

Feel your own skin.

Like with cows and horses the side facing the atmosphere is naturally smooth and oily. It's perfect for a razor.

Strip a piece off, take the hair off, and then flatten it and oil it to stay supple.
Pick a piece with no scars. Bingo a great strop.

That what you are looking for.

Your own skin is not rubbed over with fine grit sandpaper and actually, it will roughen your skin.

So you want a natural unruffened piece of leather. Actually, they roll the leather between rollers , hot rollers and this process makes it super smooth.

If you want swade or furry leather, that is a totally different process and the result makes a rough strop compared to a good smooth natural strop.

The less the surface is messed with, usually, the better the leather.

 

[huracan]

Feel your own skin.

Like with cows and horses the side facing the atmosphere is naturally smooth and oily. It's perfect for a razor.

Strip a piece off, take the hair off, and then flatten it and oil it to stay supple.
Pick a piece with no scars. Bingo a great strop.

That what you are looking for.

Your own skin is not rubbed over with fine grit sandpaper and actually, it will roughen your skin.

So you want a natural unruffened piece of leather. Actually, they roll the leather between rollers , hot rollers and this process makes it super smooth.

If you want swade or furry leather, that is a totally different process and the result makes a rough strop compared to a good smooth natural strop.

The less the surface is messed with, usually, the better the leather.

It almost sounds like you're suggesting walto use his own skin ....wait a minute

 

[walto]

Thanks for the information. Your opinion seems very logical to me. Although I am happy with the strop I have made (a bit sanding did just flatten the skin side, it did not take away the skin) I have enough leather to make another (or two) strop(s) which I will leave untreated for comparison.

Feel your own skin.

Like with cows and horses the side facing the atmosphere is naturally smooth and oily. It's perfect for a razor.

Strip a piece off, take the hair off, and then flatten it and oil it to stay supple.
Pick a piece with no scars. Bingo a great strop.

That what you are looking for.

Your own skin is not rubbed over with fine grit sandpaper and actually, it will roughen your skin.

So you want a natural unruffened piece of leather. Actually, they roll the leather between rollers , hot rollers and this process makes it super smooth.

If you want swade or furry leather, that is a totally different process and the result makes a rough strop compared to a good smooth natural strop.

The less the surface is messed with, usually, the better the leather.