Nicked my new strop three times on my first try. Humbug.

Finally got my first strop, stropped my new razor and nicked it three times. Very minor nicks that are on the edge. I don't expect it to hurt performance, but it was discouraging nonetheless. I'm finding using an "X" pattern on my thin 2" strop is much more difficult than I anticipated. I find that it wobbles the strop from side to side and it doesn't feel like I'm able to keep the blade perfectly flat... especially when I get to the tip of the blade. Any sage advice from some experienced folk would be much appreciated. I'm glad my strop was only 13 bucks.

How much pressure are you using to cause the "wobble"?

Well...

Very little pressure will help. Second, try not to think about the edge....I find that if I think about pushing and pulling the spine of the razor, then the edge just comes along for the ride.

Also, use a butterknife to practice your flip. It will help save your strop....

and last....it's all about practice and muscle memory....do it slowly and perfectly, each and every time. Your muscles will adjust after a couple weeks, and then you will be off to the races. New tasks are always a challenge.

Check out the search function and the strop forum, anyone starting out with stropping have the exact same issues, and it's been covered a few times...

It's muscle memory that have to be devloped, just keep at it, and it will be natural after a while.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

How much pressure are you using to cause the "wobble"?

---

I would define it as light pressure, but it's still probably too much. I just took another stab at it and it seemed to be better. It just seems like the blade isn't ever TRULY flush against the strop, which causes me to worry about uneven coverage of the blade. I assume even coverage isn't as important when stropping as it is with honing, but I assume it still matters. Oh well. I guess I won't know until I shave with my razor. I can't shave in the next few days due to my wicked sunburn (tip: always wear sunscreen... even when it's overcast).

Be sure to check out the tutorial videos by hi_bud_gl and AFDavis11. top notch stuff!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Be sure to check out the tutorial videos by hi_bud_gl and AFDavis11. top notch stuff!

---

+1 Amazing videos helped me allot 3 strops later im no longer cuting my filly's lol but if i havent watched the videos who know how many cows i would have killed :)lol

The rule is simple:

. . . Press the _spine_ against the strop, so the strop bends _just a little bit_ around it;

. . . Let the edge _rest_ against the strop -- very little pressure -- so the strop _doesn't_ bend around the edge.

Then just:

. . . stroke up, flip,
. . . stroke down, flip,
. . . . . .

A proper "X-stroke" isn't hard to develop.

Charles

MisterSensitive,

Like many of us, your strop now has 'character' :)

Along with cuts & nicks on the face, strop nicking seems to be part of the 'rite-of-passage' for straight razor shavers :)

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

You are probably thinking about it to hard... And if it is any consolation, when I bought a new strop my daughter asked why the edges weren't "frilly" like my old one..

try holding it taut not tight, go slow to start, and also try angling the strop slightly (as in along the direction of draw looking down the strop), some guys find this makes it easier to contact the blade properly. concentrate on the spine as others have said, and i wouldn't use any pressure other than the weight of the blade to begin. also blade contact in stropping is just as important as in honing, you can risk dulling the blade otherwise.

Hi All, I bought a strop off ebay a cheap and not cheerful thing, very short, almost like cardboard, thoroughly disappointed for 3 days, right up to the point where i forgot to turn the razor and took a ruddy great chunk out of the strop.

i too find the narrow strop twists whilst stropping so will go for a 3" wide strop, very little pressure used, sounds the same on the up and down stroke, very even, Blades were just kinda heading in the right direction.

i know the theory but the practice is a right pain.

The razor that did this is my practice razor not shave ready.

So now i will buy a decent strop and a 8k stone.