Thread: Stropping issue

Hey guys, still pretty new at this.
I have been noticing some lines running the length of my strop after about 1 week of using a straight. I noticed that when I am stropping the start of the tang is sitting in the strop. I didn't really notice, but it being on the strop lifts the heel of the blade off the strop so I am essentially stropping the tip of the blade. I bought a 3" strop in the hopes of not having to do the x-pattern.

Could this have ruined my strop or blade?
Is this a problem anyone else has had to deal with?
Thanks

If the lines you refer to are just superficial I would think it is just cosmetic. Use the palm of your hand and rub the strop a dozen times when you walk by and think of it. The oils from your skin will help condition the strop. Keep the spine on the strop at all times and flip the blade between the tip of your forefinger and thumb without turning the wrist.

Here is a 1961 barber manual excerpt from the SRP Wiki help files. The stropping part is in the last couple of pages and helped me out when I was trying to get the hang of it.

From what you're describing, the marks on the strop are little scuffs made by the toe of the razor due to the heel being inadvertantly lifted when stropping? The strop hasnt been sliced or seriously scraped?

If thats the case then you should be able to rub those little marks in with a dab of Fromm strop dressing, and then just keep rubbing them with your hand to soften them in over a few days.

One of my razors has pretty intricate spine work and has left a few tiny scuffs on the strop in the past from when I rolled it over when stropping. They rub out pretty easily though, so you should be able to get the ones out on yours pretty well..!

In terms of the razor though, you should aim to keep it totally flat on the strop all the time so that you dont roll the edge. You'll know if you have rolled the edge because the razor will not shave as well as it did before, or at all.

If you're having problems with stropping, practice using a butter knife and make sure you can get comfortable with that smooth, light back and forth motion before you take the razor to the strop.

When you're stropping, dont worry about speed at the start, just concentrate on keeping good, flat contact between razor and strop and making your strokes smooth and light. The speed comes later..!

I hope this helps and good luck!

sometimes your stropping will go a bit off course. if im having an off day ill do some slow strop laps, to sort of "re-program" my self, and slowly increase speed till im back to my regular awesomeness. i find its an easy adjustment to make.
good luck

Thanks a lot guys. Big help as always.