Thread: First cut is indeed the deepest

The one little nick i have reminds of the exciting time i made the transition to a straight. It's like looking back on the times i was going out with my girlfriend for the first times. I was slightly nervous, but ready to learn!

The next nick will teach me never to nick the strop again. I don't have an anicdote for that...! (because i'm marrying the girl this year!!!) but at the same time!!

how does one repair a nicked strop? I've been conditioning mine and am almost ready for the first use. Hopefully I won't have to repair a nick, but the knowledge of how to do so might help.

Originally Posted by freebird

how does one repair a nicked strop? I've been conditioning mine and am almost ready for the first use. Hopefully I won't have to repair a nick, but the knowledge of how to do so might help.

Generally people use a pumice stone or fine grit sandpaper to sand it flush with the strop surface. You can use an exacto or razor blade to remove the little flaps caused by by the nick and then sand it down. It's a good idea to wash the strop to thoroughly remove any gritty stuff from your strop --don't want to dull your razor. I haven't had any adverse effects from nicks as long as they are handled this way.

Justin

Originally Posted by freebird

how does one repair a nicked strop? I've been conditioning mine and am almost ready for the first use. Hopefully I won't have to repair a nick, but the knowledge of how to do so might help.

The main problem with a cut or nicked strop is that the razor can catch the raised imperfection in the leather. When you have a nick or cut (depending on how deep) you may first want to glue it down if there is a flap. My suggestion for this would be contact cement as it works very well on leather but does not dry hard. Then you would want to level the surface. This can be done with emery cloth or sandpaper. When there is no longer any raised imperfection, ensure that no imbedded grit remains in the leather (a worn toothbrush with GOOP works great). Then condition the stop and you're back in business.

Hope this helps,
Ed

I won't recommend this one to anyone else just yet, as I only first used it this morning. And, again, because of the location of it the nick in my strop was more an aesthetic concern that an issue of performance, but I used New Skin. [URL="http://www.newskinproducts.com/liquid-bandage.htm"]

I dabbed a little on the underside of the flap I'd caused, smoothed it down with my thumb and, when I left the house at least, the strop looked quite close to unmarred. Yes. I have tended to my wounded strop as though it were a small child. I see no problem with that.