Oiling a strop?

[zuludog]

I've made leather sharpening strops before, and have simply loaded them with green chromium dioxide stropping compound and away we go and not had any problems

But I've been idly Searching YouTube and see that some people oil or grease the leather before applying compound - so which is it, please, to grease or not to grease?

[billybopp]

6 minutes ago, zuludog said:

I've made leather sharpening strops before, and have simply loaded them with green chromium dioxide stropping compound and away we go and not had any problems

But I've been idly Searching YouTube and see that some people oil or grease the leather before applying compound - so which is it, please, to grease or not to grease?

If you're using stick form compound, it doesn't really matter - I don't oil tho.  Oil/grease is helpful if you're using a dry powdered compound.

- Bill

[zuludog]

8 minutes ago, billybopp said:

If you're using stick form compound, it doesn't really matter - I don't oil tho.  Oil/grease is helpful if you're using a dry powdered compound.

- Bill

Thanks; I use a stick, so I'll carry on without grease, but I might just make one with a slight amount of grease and see how it goes

[Arturomex]

I also use a green compound stick but I oil very, very lightly before the first application. I think it helps me apply the compound better but it's the only time I oil. I think Bill might be right and the efficacy of my oil application might just be in my head. I'm going to make another strop without oiling and see how it works.

Not to teach grandma to suck eggs but I use the thinnest veg tan I can get, (0.5 ~ 1.0 mm) wet it, let it dry thoroughly and then glue it to the board (2.5 X .75 in. oak). I'm looking for the hardest surface I can get with minimal give to minimize any profile distortion. I pretty much only use Japanese knives on veg tan these days and they love the strop.

[bruce johnson]

My thoughts are that it depends on the compound and maker. I have found that within the green, black, and white colors there are variations between makers. One suppliers green can be greasy and spread and stick well to anything. Another maker’s version can be chalky and dry. Those do better with oiled leather. I found a maker that I like for wheels and strops and stay with them. 

[cord1974]

When I'm making a new strop or reloading an existing strip I grind up green compound as fine as I can get it.

Then I add a bit of of oil to make it slurry.

I then run that into the leather.

I have no evidence that it works better than just rubbing the compound directly on the leather but it's how I've done it for over 20 years and it works for me 

[Littlef]

My thoughts (for what its worth) are that you probably wouldn't want to oil or grease the strop.  When you're stropping a blade, its the friction between the blade and leather with the polishing compound that's doing the work.  I would image if you are putting a lubricant in there, it would just decrease the friction, and the polishing effect.    - a little piece of leather from your scrap pile is pretty much free, and would give you the opportunity to experiment and see what happens.  

[Gezzer]

I  am with Bruce Johnson on this . Some aren't made with as much tallow as others ( drier ) and need a little oil to help them embed .