Thread: My strop leaves gunk on my razor

So my black latigo SRD strop likes to leave black gunk on my razor after stropping. I can usually wipe most of it off but not all of it. The stains are unsightly, but I don't think they affect my shave as most of them are closer to the spine. Still, is there any way to clean the blade every once and a while that won't affect the sharpness of the blade?

Both my homemade strop and my Illinois 827 leave gunk under the spine. I just wipe it off with a tissue and shave; it doesn't leave stains. Blades with 'sharper' spines definitely tend to accumulate more strop residue.

As for cleaning, I'd try a tissue or cotton ball and some kind of rubbing alcohol, taking care to make sure it was completely dry when you finished. Can't imagine a strop would leave stains that couldn't be removed this way.

I have just the opposite. My blades leave a residue on my strop.

Whenever I strop, I end up with soft "filings" or "flakes" or "leather dust" on my blade at the end of each stropping. I assume this is normal and doesn't damage the strop. It certainly hasn't affected the razors, because they remain perfectly sharp.

I had a razor I restored that was leaving alot of leather dust after stropping. I figured it would wear my strop down quicker, so I took a look at the spine. Sure enough there were some sharp edges. A little work with some 1000 grit took care of the issue.

It's not unusual with a new strop depending on the finish to leave some leather fuzz on the blade the first few times you use it but that comes right off. I have several strops and I've never seen the dye or dressing come off on a blade. Maybe there was excess finish used? If your concerned contact your retailer and discuss it with them.