Replacing a strop

[Curtis The Carver]

Hi everyone! Just wondering if anyone has ever needed to replace their strop. I've had mine for 3 years now and just wondering if over time can too much metal and compound being rubbed onto the leather wear it out. Thanks.

[Sean R]

Hi Curtis. If it gets to dirty with the metal on it grab a scotch brite pad and scrub it down (dry) and you should be good to go.
Sean

[mdallensr]

A one-word answer is "no". Some carvers never clean or re-new their strops. The real measure of your strops condition is how it works, not how it looks. I've used several for more than ten years, and add a little compound occasionally, but that's it. Mike

[Robson Valley]

I have a 6"(?) 8"(?) mill file. Quite a long straight section. I was taught to use the serrated edge as a scraper to clean the gunge off my strop. Light pressure, straight pull-strokes. I clean the crud off the file with a simple brass-bristle BBQ brush. Yesterday, I was trying to sharpen up a cheap set of lino tools, cleaned off the strop 3X = no biggie.

[Nomad]

Once in awhile I will scrape off accumulated compound with a plastic putty knife.

[Buffalo Bif]

I'm a little careless compared to some of you I guess- I keep nicking my strop. Every once in a while I take a sanding block made with a belt from a power sander and remove some leather. Eventually I'll need a new one.

[Sharon of the Dell]

My father in-law(RIP) had a nice thick leather strop that was old when I met him 36 years ago. It also had a duel butt whacking purpose, so maybe that helped keep it clean!
My husband thinks he never used any kind of compound on it. It didn't look like he used any. It hangs in my sis in-laws dining room now.

[Jim Arnold]

Ha!. My dad used his strop on us quite a bit when we were growing up (sans compound). I make my own I got all kinds of shapes and sizes, if I gouge it too much, and it happens, I toss it and use another. I always use the compound stuff.

[Bob K.]

My dad used the leather but no wood...or compound! Damn near wore out the leather!

[Sharon of the Dell]

I remember my dad's belt across my back side a few times! Just thinking about it kept me from getting into all kinds of trouble! Well most of the time. I think he even stropped his pocket knife on it!