Thread: Nicking the strop...

As I'm sure it's a normal for a new-to-straight-razor-shaving guy to nick his leather hanging strop I pose this question; is it possible to harm the razor with a slight nick in the leather? Mine is a 2" red Latigo hanging strop and despite slow even strokes before my first few shaves with little pressure and never rolling on the edge, I managed to nick the leather on the edge near where I start a lap. At first the one or two nicks didn't seem so severe so I made extra special care to not to repeat the mistake to avoid making more or make the ones already there worse. However, last week after stropping my 5/8 Dovo 40 laps on the canvas strop I started in on the leather, again, being very careful, but I noticed a streak on the leather following the path the razor, almost like the razor was scraping the surface. Confused, I looked at the edge and sure enough, little pieces of leather just hangin out where they shouldn't. "Okay," I thought, "it appears I've nicked my brand new razor and/or rolled the edge." Wasn't sure how, but chalked it up to my less-than-novice skills. A couple days later I take a look at the leather strop again and it occurred to me that the nicks on the blade and those on the leather matched up; where I finish a lap.

Unfortunately I cannot load pictures as a reference as I've only my dinosaur flip-phone with POS camera.

So have I possibly ruined a strop that will forever pose a threat to any razor* I may use on it? Should I just abandon the strop I have in favor of a new one or can it be saved? I'm considering going to either a paddle or a loom to avoid rolling the edge as is, but that would be down the road when finances are better. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


*Regardless of strop issues, I'll be getting the razor re-honed next week.

Hard to say without seeing it but if there are no divots, flaps ...... nothing you can feel with your fingers sticking up I wouldn't think it would damage a razor if you are stropping properly. If there is anything hit it with pumice stone or light sandpaper and knock it down. Glue flaps with contact cement if they are large enough.

I found it a lot easier and a lot better for my strop to place it on the kitchen counter and strop that way. Just lay it flat and go slow. I nicked my strop a few times and did what Jimmy said followed by a little strop conditioner and everything was cool.

Originally Posted by Vicious

As I'm sure it's a normal for a new-to-straight-razor-shaving guy to nick his leather hanging strop I pose this question; is it possible to harm the razor with a slight nick in the leather? Mine is a 2" red Latigo hanging strop and despite slow even strokes before my first few shaves with little pressure and never rolling on the edge, I managed to nick the leather on the edge near where I start a lap. At first the one or two nicks didn't seem so severe so I made extra special care to not to repeat the mistake to avoid making more or make the ones already there worse. However, last week after stropping my 5/8 Dovo 40 laps on the canvas strop I started in on the leather, again, being very careful, but I noticed a streak on the leather following the path the razor, almost like the razor was scraping the surface. Confused, I looked at the edge and sure enough, little pieces of leather just hangin out where they shouldn't. "Okay," I thought, "it appears I've nicked my brand new razor and/or rolled the edge." Wasn't sure how, but chalked it up to my less-than-novice skills. A couple days later I take a look at the leather strop again and it occurred to me that the nicks on the blade and those on the leather matched up; where I finish a lap.

Unfortunately I cannot load pictures as a reference as I've only my dinosaur flip-phone with POS camera.

So have I possibly ruined a strop that will forever pose a threat to any razor* I may use on it? Should I just abandon the strop I have in favor of a new one or can it be saved? I'm considering going to either a paddle or a loom to avoid rolling the edge as is, but that would be down the road when finances are better. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


*Regardless of strop issues, I'll be getting the razor re-honed next week.

you said that there seems to be a trail as the razor slides over the strop. since you have a 2" strop, im guessing that during your x-trokes the point of your razor is the part that scrapes the leather? i had the same problem on my poor man's strop and pressure was the culprit. try doing x-strokes with no pressure but only the weight of the razor. this video could also be very helpful, there are other great videos too by Lynn Abrahams but this can relate more to your problem.



hope it helps and happy shaving!
hal.

Ok I am having the same issue and just purchased a new strop. I had flaps the touched the blade and I think that it dulled it. Would the new strop take care of it or do I need to take it to the Norton 8k?

I've done the same with mine. I'm more concerned with the blade. Do I need to get it re-honed now?

Originally Posted by pbsd

Ok I am having the same issue and just purchased a new strop. I had flaps the touched the blade and I think that it dulled it. Would the new strop take care of it or do I need to take it to the Norton 8k?

Originally Posted by DirkDD

I've done the same with mine. I'm more concerned with the blade. Do I need to get it re-honed now?

If further correct stropping won't bring it back than honing would be what is needed.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If further correct stropping won't bring it back than honing would be what is needed.

+1 on that,
although, before you decide that you really rolled the edge. consider shaving a cheek with it as you would with a sharp blade, with proper angles and no pressure at all. if that does not work, and you need to apply pressure then you surely need to have it honed again. the edge hitting a d-ring or the leather square would most like need to be rehoned, but i dont think one or two false laps on the strop could destroy the edge. do correct me if i am wrong.

I took some sand paper to my strop and nicks are not noticeable anymore, so that's good. As for the blade, well, I took a look at it with a magnifying glass (though not very powerfull) and I've definitely rolled the edge in the middle (definitely poor technique on my part) with a couple nicks near the heel. Not sure how I did the nicks, I haven't smacked a D-Ring or the faucet (I wipe with a clean towel instead of rinsing) so I'm at a loss. Dropping it off tomorrow for honing. Thanks again all for the advice!