Thread: Strop residue?

Hello,

I have a question about what appears to be a residue left on my razor after stropping.

I have been using a straight razor to shave for about three months. As I am only a beginner, I followed the general advice here and got a cheap beater of a strop (which was a good thing as it quickly earned a few nicks). It is a Pakistan-made "Scalpmaster."
Amazon.com: Scalpmaster Barber Strop: Health & Personal Care

I know that this is an inferior strop, and once I get the money, I plan to purchase a new strop from SRD. In the meantime, I have noticed that after post-shave stropping, a fine (needle thin) line of brown is left on the edge of the blade and along the edge of the spine of my razors.

1. I am certain this is not rust. After my last pass, I always rinse the blade in hot water, then dry with a towel followed by tissue paper. After this, I leave the strop open away from the sink so that it can dry while I rinse my face, apply aftershave, etc.

2. The line of brown appears only after stropping and I am fairly certain I am stropping correctly. I've followed the various tips here, and there has been no problem with the sharpness of my blades over the last three months.

3. I have not treated the strop with anything.

Does anyone have an idea what's going on with this strop residue? Thank you.

I have a red latigo strop and I get similar residue on the edge of the spine. I assume this is the waxes and what-not that characterize the red latigo processing. I could be wrong, but I've never had a problem.

Jordan

I've experienced this with a Tony Miller Artisan Horsehide strop,
and certainly haven't noticed any adverse effects. I wouldn't think
too much of it.

- Scott

My Tony Miller Artisan Latigo strop also leaves some residue on the spine of my razor after stropping. Before this strop I used a Dovo strop. With the Dovo I didn't have any residue "problems". I didn't change my stropping technique, so it probably has to do with the material of the strop.

I am an extream beginer but from reading your post, it may be the tanning chemicals or the dye that they used to color the strop.

I often get a strip of residue along the spine of some razors with few of my strops. These are vintage and I attribute it to excessive conditioning and left over loose particles on the surface of the leather. It tends to get less with use and also depends on the geometry of the spine.
Mine are quality strops and work well, so I just wipe it off when it happens and don't worry about it.

My only two strops that haven't left any particles on the edge are the kanayama and the jimboroo (actually there may be few others that I haven't looked at the edge under microscope after stropping, I'll do it).

I've had that with a few strops that were new like the red latigo and some nos vintage strops with really nappy surfaces. For a while you get some fuzz on the blade.

I have an antique horsehide strop that I've recently started lathering once a week with Williams soap. After stropping, it also leaves a thin blackish line on the bottom of the spine. I haven't noticed any decline in performance and normally just wipe off the black mark.

Same here. I just wipe it off with a tissue. Wouldn't leave it on the razor, since it seems like it probably contains some moisture.