Leather strop compound removal.

[mosseri]

Hey guys,

Would really appreciate some help with this one.

Could anyone explain the actual process of how I remove compound off a leather strop?

I do understand WD40 or lighter fluid would work, but how do I actually use it without damaging my strop?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jason B.]

Put on a paper towel or rag and rub.

 

[mosseri]

Put on a paper towel or rag and rub.

Would you suggest the leather received substantial damage if i would to apply the product directly on the leather, to a point to it got soaked?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Would you suggest the leather received substantial damage if i would to apply the product directly on the leather, to a point to it got soaked?

I wouldn't do that. It will just unnecessarily dry out the leather. Using a moistened paper towel works well enough, as suggested. The compound is only on the surface, so soaking the full depth of the leather doesn't add anything to cleaning it off. If the strop was previously treated with other moisturizers and/or leather conditioners, the WD-40 will also strip more of that away, if used excessively.

 

[carbonsteel928]

FWIW, I've used denatured alcohol and a paper towel, successfully, a multitude of times to clean my strops.

 

[socalkid]

Hello,

The way I remove compound from my strop is with duck tape but it only works with the some polishing compounds. I use the hard bar type, if your using a paste or spray compound it might not work but try anyways. Take a piece of duck tape and lay it on top of the strop. Press it on firmly and pull it off. It should take most of it off after a few pieces of tape. Then if your strop is raw and unfinished take some 220 sand paper with a sanding block and sand it smooth. I wouldnt sand your strop if its a nice straight razor strop.

Have a good one,

Chris

 

[stitchawl]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with treating your strop as fine leather.
After you've cleaned it, with whatever method you prefer (and I prefer lighter fluid or Coleman fuel poured right onto the leather and rubbed with a clean rag, repeated until no more color shows on the rag) rub in some leather conditioner before you add more compound. Revitalize the leather with shoe cream (not shoe polish,) Lexol, neatsfoot oil, baseball glove conditioner, or even ArmorAll.


Stitchawl