Cleaning strop

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Should you take a brush to your strop every so often to clean out the build up of compound ?

[Mark N. Akers]

I use a 3M pad,I prefer a coarse one,don't use sandpaper as it leaves grit in the leather that damages your blades.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Okay, you've peaked my interest. Why would I want to take off a surface that I've worked so hard to put on? I was always taught just to keep adding compound.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

That's where I was going, I was told both ways by long time carvers. One said clean the other said let it build up, even the yellow stone directions say when your strop has a black build up with a shine that is what you want, just add some more compound every so often. Very confusing.

Dave

[cats pa]

The only thing I've ever found that will clean leather well is saddle soap, available at feed stores or where horse people hang out. But that brings up another question: are you stropping on the rough or smooth side of the leather?

I've made strops both ways, and I prefer the rough side because it absorbs the compound and swarf and builds up that shiny black surface that Eddy likes quicker. No way in h*ll you're going to clean the rough side to anything close to clean. The smooth side? You might be able to clean it, but it also absorbs, just not as quickly.

You could just make up half a dozen strops while you were at it, and then you'd always have a fresh one when you wanted it...

Parker

[Mark N. Akers]

Iv'e found that it can build up to much after a while,just try it,take it off and the put a new load of compound on it and see the difference,but hold onto the knife it will reach out and grab it.I'll do it maybe twice a year.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

That sounds like what someone else told me except he cleans his about once a month. No soap or anything like that just a good stiff brush.

[squbrigg]

Clean a strop ....... why ever would you do that? I have several that I use daily and have never "cleaned" one yet. I add compound once in a while, or if one looks like it has a build up, I'll scrape off the compound with the back side of a knife, down to rough leather again and add more compound. They all give great service, and keep my tools sharp.

Bob

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Bob if your scraping the compound off with your knife, is that almost the same as scraping with a brush ?

Dave

[AlArchie]

I really don't see the need to clean a strop, but out of general "housekeeping responsibilities", every so often I scrape mine off with a hacksaw blade, then turn the blade over and scrape again with the back side. don't know if it helps or not, but it makes me feel better???????

Al