Thread: Nicked Strop

Will a nicked strop ruin the edge of a razor? I have nicked up my seconds strop and am hoping its still serviceable. The nicks are mainly at the ends so I could just use the middle portion but this would mean more laps.

What do you guys think?


Also I'm pretty sure I dulled the edge of the shave ready I got from Joe. I think maybe my pasted paddle can fix it up, but where should I start (3, 1, .5, .25)?

Strop nicks are easy to fix.
1) Rub it with a pumice stone until you remove the nick.
2) Wipe off with a dry paper towel, then with a moist one and then with a dry one again, to remove all of the abrasive particles.
3) Use strop dressing on the spot and about a 100% of its area around it, then let it sit for an hour.
4) Use strop dressing or mink oil on the whole strop.
Voila!

Caveat: A strop treated with dressing will be good to go in a day or so, but if you use mink oil, go light and let it sit for at least 2-3 days if you don't want red dye to end up on your razor spines. The same goes if you're just applying mink oil to keep it nice and soft.
Caveat #2: Go nice, easy and careful with your stropping. Speed will come on its own.
Caveat #3: Strop dressing will get your strop up and running sooner but it smells like sweaty feet!

P.S. An alcohol-soaked cotton pad will clean the red dye off your razors after stropping.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Strop nicks are easy to fix.
1) Rub it with a pumice stone until you remove the nick.
2) Wipe off with a dry paper towel, then with a moist one and then with a dry one again, to remove all of the abrasive particles.
3) Use strop dressing on the spot and about a 100% of its area around it, then let it sit for an hour.
4) Use strop dressing or mink oil on the whole strop.
Voila!

Caveat: A strop treated with dressing will be good to go in a day or so, but if you use mink oil, go light and let it sit for at least 2-3 days if you don't want red dye to end up on your razor spines. The same goes if you're just applying mink oil to keep it nice and soft.
Caveat #2: Go nice, easy and careful with your stropping. Speed will come on its own.
Caveat #3: Strop dressing will get your strop up and running sooner but it smells like sweaty feet!

This sounds like advice given by someone with experience!?

Thanks a bunch.

I'll grab the pumice stone and order some strop dressing to fix it up. Will there be any damage to the razor in the meantime (i'll have to order the dressing from Tony).

Well, ofcourse. We all had to start once. That's why I got one of the seconds in the first place. Since they already have minor and cosmeticcosmetic imperfections, even if I do nick mine in the beginning, it won't be too bad once I fix it up.
Eventually I reached the point where I can be confident that I won't nick my strop but it works so well, I don't need to get a "first" lol.

Originally Posted by jbasl

Thanks a bunch.

I'll grab the pumice stone and order some strop dressing to fix it up. Will there be any damage to the razor in the meantime (i'll have to order the dressing from Tony).

Just avoid the nicked portion of the strop and if you have to shorten your stroke, do more passes.
I'll recommend against getting the strop dressing simply b/c I found the smell offensive. You can get your hands on mink oil even in some large grocery stores' shoe care sections and IMO the lack of a bad smell is well worth the extra trouble with cleaning your razors first 5-6 times around.
On a good note Tony's dressing is really good for the leather, leaves it nice and soft, works quickly and doesn't release the dye from it.

IF! your razor is dulled (shave test to find out) then start with 20 laps on each of the 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 pastes. Clean the razor between each paste. Strop 30-60 laps just before shaving.

I havent had a strop that didnt have at least one nick in it eventually....my current one has to or three...doesnt effect my shave....so I havent bothered to fool with it.