strop maintenance question

[Geode]

Hi all,

I really like stropping for a keen blade. What does anyone to clean their strop when it is getting really loaded with compound? Seems like the build up of metal and compound may interfere with the function of the strop.

Thanks

 

[pahl]

Hi,
I have a strop that is on a board.
What I do with mine is just wipe it off with a dry paper towel.
That seems to work really well.
I'm interested in hearing how others clean theres.

pahl

 

[hd2k_va]

I have the same setup and clean it the same way. There was another poster, in some thread within the past 6 months, who said they use saddle soap. Dry paper towels work just fine for me though.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I primarily use terry cloth rags. If a strop gets heavily loaded with buffing compound wax base I sometimes use extra-fine steel wool.

 

[BaldBlade]

I have a strop I made out of a weightlifters belt I purchased from a sporting goods store that was going out of business. I have it clamped to my workbench.

Occasionally I take a flat putty knife & scrape off all of the old polishing compound. This does a pretty good job of taking off the old compound & bringing up the "nap" of the leather. I then re-apply new compound. This seems to work well for me.