Old strop

[pc44730]

I know where I can find an old barber's stop at a good price. I imagine it hasn't been used for quite a while, it's fairly hard and dry, but appears to be in good shape otherwise. I'm interested in it because I want to actually use it. Should it be made soft again and how might that be done?

Thanks,

PC

 

[Tywno]

A lot of members around here recommend neatsfootoil to bring it back into shape. If thats not available I'd use a good quality leather oil. Thats what I personally did, anyway . Apply a little oil to the back of the strop and work it in with your hand. Repeat this until the strop is supple again.

Next apply strop paste (Dovo yellow i.e) to the front of the strop and work it in. You can then use a pumace stone to get rid of blemishes on the face of the strop. Apply a little extra strop paste to the sanded spots. You should be ready to go now.

I've done this myself with a dried out strop I was given. Unfortunately, after all this, the leather was unsalvageable (too dry/brittle) and I can not use the strop without taking out fibers of the leather. So I don't use it, but it still looks great.

 

[Kelly siefkas]

Neatsfoot oil is the way to go, I would apply it to the front of the leather though being that is the side you use, a little on the back wont hurt just to be sure the entire thickness of the strop has been treated, good luck!

 

[English]

All great advice and the result will likely be a fantastic strop. The old ones are often the best.

 

[Neil Miller]

A good saddle-soaping on both sides of the leather is another way to go - it contains glycerine and neatsfoot oil that is left behind, but if the strop is really dry after saddle-soaping it (and leaving it for a while for most of the water to evaporate) pour some neatsfoot oil on a scrap of cloth and work it well into the surface of the strop - just the top side will do. This stops the strop drying out too quickly and further impregnates it with oil (don't put too much oil on at once - just put the cloth over the end of the bottle and up-end it, wipe the excess off against the rim, then work it in evenly all over the surface of the strop. You can always repeat the oiling after a day or so if the strop is still too dry.

Regards,
Neil

 

[SliceOfLife]

Dry? Put your hand under it and raise it slightly all along the length (basically you want to bow it slightly) to check for cracking. As far as I know cracking can't be repaired.

 

[Leche]

Ya just make sure it isn't all cracked. You can work the dressing in with a glass bottle and also checking for cupping which can be fixed lying the strop on a flat surface and weighting it down.