Strop Conditioning?

B

Bindlestiff

Joined
Jun 21, 2002
Messages
124
What is the story on strop conditioning?

I have used mineral oil on strops with reasonalble results.

Am I missing something? Vasoline?
 
Every couple of months I wet the strops down with some Ballistol. Of course, my "strops" are simply sections of an old leather work belt that's soaked with some kind of oil or grease already.

I never used any oil on the leather belt on my belt sander. A few applications of Lee Valley's green stuff seemed to do the trick. (It would probably work on a hand strop, come to think of it, but I didn't have the patience to work it in.)
 
I learned a neat little tip from the HandAmerican website, use a waterless hand cleaner (not the orange stuff, think regular Gojo). It really works, and works well.
 
I have a 6" round thick leather that I carry in my bag. Half is used with emory grit and when it needs cleaning, I simply use sand paper to rough it back up.
On my barbers strop, I use it as is with no additives.
 
yoda4561 said:
I learned a neat little tip from the HandAmerican website, use a waterless hand cleaner (not the orange stuff, think regular Gojo). It really works, and works well.
Click to expand...

Same here, works great for me too.
 
cmd said:
Same here, works great for me too.
Click to expand...

Ditto again.

I use it when I want to change grits on the strops. Have more than 1 strop and a boatload of different grit powders from Hand American. Some for work knives, some for kitchen knives.

Rob
 
Unless you really gunk up the stop you shouldn't have to condition it. I use a wooden paint stirrer with a leather strip on each side, one medium,one with fine. It has to be 20 years old and I have never done anything to it. If it didn't work I'd probably just toss it and start with a fresh new one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top