Thread: Now what should follow my sanded strop after I nicked and gouged it!!

First, I learned a valuable lesson last night and made a very good decision. The lesson is for a novice not to try straight razor shaving after you have taken Claritin-D. I didn't realize how much my coordination was affected. My oldest child brought home a cold to the family a few days ago and last night I need some relief; so, I decide to take a hot shower and shave. Earlier I had taken Claritin-D as this is my goto for when the runny nose and watery eyes become unbearable. Well I as far as cold symptoms are concerned, I felt fine. So after my shower, I prepped for the shave and began to strop. I nicked and gauged the strop because my focus was affected.
So figured I had better not even try shaving. I had no Idea my focus was affected that much: hence the do not drive or operate heavy machinery warning. They should add "or attempt to shave with a cutthroat razor"! So I shaved with my DE and hung my head for the night in shame and battled mental flagellation over my mistake; however, I did give myself credit for knowing to STOP and not compound my mistake.

Today I purchased 400, 800, and 2000 grit wet/dry auto finishing sand paper and managed to remove the damage to the point where I cannot see or even feel it with my hand. I rinsed the strop with water to remove the sanding media and dried it. I rubbed it with my palm and thumbs and overall I'm happy with the results.

The strop is an SRD 3" red latigo. The sanded area is a noticeable discolored patch with a "slightly" more abrasive feel then the rest of the strop. The nick and gouge measured a total of 5 to 7 mm or about 1/4" and was located in the center of the strop about 3/4" from the edge. There was no flap and the total depth was less than 1/32 of an inch. Now there is no visible sign of the nick or gouge, and I feathered the sanding repair as I increased the grit of the sand paper.

What else should I do to the damaged area before I strop my razor if anything. I planned on conditioning the entire strop and repaired section by simply palm rubbing. I don't have any strop conditioner or dressing. On the strop wiki one method of breaking in is to coat the strop with shaving soap lather and letting it dry. Has anyone done this and would it be helpful for the sanded area of the strop?

I posted this in the beginners section as opposed to the strop section since I'm a beginner.

Originally Posted by Fort

So figured I had better not even try shaving. I had no Idea my focus was affected that much: hence the do not drive or operate heavy machinery warning. They should add "or attempt to shave with a cutthroat razor"! So I shaved with my DE and hung my head for the night in shame and battled mental flagellation over my mistake; however, I did give myself credit for knowing to STOP and not compound my mistake.

You're right to give yourself credit for stopping at that point! Many of us would have stubbornly carried on and carried some extra scars as a result. This raises an excellent point - particularly for anyone starting out who hasn't fully settled into a straight razor routine. If it doesn't feel right, just stop. Wait till tomorrow, grab a DE or whatever other option you have at hand, do whatever you have to do other than applying sharp steel to face when you're not comfortable doing so. There are few better ways to ruin the whole experience than slicing one's own face open.

So I give you a big for recognizing when it made sense to stop.

As for the strop, I'm hoping others chime in. I haven't ever nicked a strop to the point that it required repair like that, so I'm a relative newbie on that front and absolutely defer to the advice of anyone who actually, you know, knows what he's talking about. But what you have done so far sounds reasonable to me, although I'm not sure I would have rinsed the strop with water to get the grit off. But I'm a little paranoid about keeping leather away from water. I have never ever used any strop conditioner at all on any of my strops other than rubbing with my palm as you mentioned, so unless anyone has other info regarding a repair job such as this, I'd just keep on doing that.

Does the sanded/discoloured area contact the edge when stropping? Or is it far enough below the surface not to make contact? I don't think I'd worry about it too much to be honest, and embrace the discolouration as a constant reminder to stay off the drugs when stropping.

You could wipe it down with a damp cloth to get the grit off and then let it dry. You don't want to scratch your edge with that. If you don't feel anything sticking up then your good to go. The only other thing I could think of is burnishing the nick. (smoothing it down by rubbing a bottle or something smooth over it.) Pics would help the experts if/when they come in. If they don't take it to the strop section and knock on somebodies door :<0)

I have had a lot of leather but there are strop makers hanging around in here that may have specific advice for you.