Cleaning a strop?

K

KennyB

Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
2,312
So I've got a plain leather strop I've been using, but it's looking pretty grey and it's not working as well as I'd like it to anymore. I figure it's just too built up with metal particles, so is there a good and easy way to clean it?

Oh, and one more question about stropping: Is it best to hold the edge bevel onto the strop at exactly the same angle you honed it at, or is it better to keep it a little lower to prevent the leather from rolling over the edge and dulling it?
 
Last edited:
KennyB said:
So I've got a plain leather strop I've been using, but it's looking pretty grey and it's not working as well as I'd like it to anymore. I figure it's just too built up with metal particles, so is there a good and easy way to clean it?

Oh, and one more question about stropping: Is it best to hold the edge bevel onto the strop at exactly the same angle you honed it at, or is it better to keep it a little lower to prevent the leather from rolling over the edge and dulling it?
Click to expand...

Exactly. you want to "creep up" on the edge.

For cleaning spray WD-40 on a cloth towel and wipe the leather. It should remove the build up and will help to condition the leather. Also, try using minimal amounts of the WD or you will over oil the leather.
 
I like to use lighter fluid to clean the strop. Takes off all the crud without putting any mineral oil onto the leather. (I like mineral oil on steel, not on leather.) Then I follow up with a good leather conditioner/shoe cream/neatsfoot oil, etc., to put the life back into the strop. (NOT shoe polish! Shoe cream.)

Stitchawl
 
lighter fluid... hmmm. I'll have to try that next time.

What leather conditioner do you like best?
 
knifenut1013 said:
lighter fluid... hmmm. I'll have to try that next time.
Click to expand...

Lighter fluid is one of the greatest solvents around! Basically, it's pure naphtha. Another really good cleaner is Coleman fuel. Both of these will clean most anything and not leave any residue.

What leather conditioner do you like best?
Click to expand...

What ever I happen to have handy... Sometimes if I've been doing a lot of leather work I'll have a bottle of 'Lexol' around. If not, then perhaps just some good quality shoe cream (not polish!) Any leather conditioner will do, especially if it's a bench mounted strop. I don't need it to become real soft or flexible, just not dry out. Neatsfoot oil is great but you do need to apply it sparingly or the leather will really soften up.

The Punisher made a joke about using bear grease, but in fact, any rendered animal fat would be good. Just be sure of two things; one, that it's rendered, and two, that the animal is no longer connected to it! :D
If using rendered animal grease, don't store the strop where critters can get at it.

Stitchawl.
 
I learned the hard way with neatsfoot oil, many paper towels and days of drying in the sun. A year later its still oily :(
 
Goop or Gojo hand cleaners are best.

Both are waterless, both have glycerin and lanolin for cleaning and conditioning.

Any auto parts store carries one or the other.
Keith
 
I'll second what Keith said about waterless handcleaner. It's a very good leather cleaner (though not as strong as lighter fluid or Coleman fuel) that will also condition leather a bit as it works. I just don't usually have it around the house.

Stitchawl
 
Just tried the lighter fluid since I had some laying around.
Cleaned up pretty well.
Maybe I'll get some hand cleaner from the shop Monday and give that a shot.
 
termiteslayer said:
Just tried the lighter fluid since I had some laying around.
Cleaned up pretty well.
Maybe I'll get some hand cleaner from the shop Monday and give that a shot.
Click to expand...

Just be sure it isn't the type that has granules of pumice in it. That stuff will scratch the hell out of a strop!!

Stitchawl
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top