Cleaning/Maintaining Leather Strops

[Big Bob]

Several months ago I made a couple of leather strops using an old belt. One strop has Tripoli on it while the other one has green CrO. It seems like the last few times I've used them, the compounds don't stay on as much and the edges of my khuks don't get as polished/sharp as the were getting.

For those here who use strops, what do you do as far as maintainance and cleaning are concerned? Do you occassionally strip off the leftover compound and recharge from scratch?

Bob

 

[Fiddleback]

I am very interested in the experts advice here. I personaly do strip the old compound and restart when it gets cakey and black. I use an old cheap serrated kitchen knife and scrape it up and down the strop with the edge held perpendicular to the surface of the leather. It seems to work good, just don't use a good knife for this task.

 

[Daniel Koster]

A stiff wire brush (like used in welding clean-up) is best. keeps the surface relatively flat while "refreshing" the leather.

If you want to remove build-up..get some acetone and brush gently.

 

[kamagong]

I just use a paper towel to wipe off old compound. It works well and is a non-messy way of cleaning the strop.

 

[Dave Rishar]

They say to use a pumice stone for cleaning and dressing razor strops. I use a cheapo extra coarse sharpening stone from Home Depot.

Lay the strop on a flat surface and scrub it with the stone. When the surface is good and refreshed, reapply your polishing compound, wet it down with Ballistol, and rub the whole mess in to the leather. Just like new.

I use this on both my old leather khukuri/sword/axe strop and also my razor strop, so I don't believe that any damaging particles are left over from the process. If anything, existing particles are removed.

 

[Big Bob]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I've got a couple of spare wire brushes that I can use.

Bob

 

[richardallen]

I haven't cleaned my strop for 2 years. It still seems to work good. I think the only thing I have actually done to it is put some more stropping compound on it once or twice.

Keno