Thread: What to do With Strop Nicks?

I'm still pretty new to straight shaving and while "refining" my stroping technique I have created a few nicks in my strop. I assume these nicks affect the razor negatively so I'm wondering what I can do to renew my strop? The nicks are close to the ends of the strop so for the time being I've been trying to just strop between them but it's a pretty short pass now. I'm hoping the strop isn't ruined.

I sanded the nicks out of my strop with 1500 grit sand paper then applied a wee bit of neatsfoot oil.

jayb11175,

+1 on SuperSpeedRacer's post

I use 600 grit silicon carbide wet& dry paper, followed by 1200. A little rub with a tiny amount of neatsfoot oil, and the job is done.

Any 'flaps' cut in the surface can be glued down (I have used super glue), then sanded as above.

My first strop was nick-named 'ScarFace', so you can imagine that it had quite a hard life !!

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I'm in the same boat as Jay as I have a latigo leather strop that has some nicks in it. You guys recommend using neatsfoot oil, but I was wondering if mineral oil would do the trick? I use mineral oil regular on scale materails (horn and wood) to get a nice shine and to protect them from water.

What to do With Strop Nicks?

I used to save 'em in a cigar box, then mail 'em to Stevie Nicks. Last time, she sent 'em back... said she's not into leather, anymore.

Originally Posted by Bordee

I'm in the same boat as Jay as I have a latigo leather strop that has some nicks in it. You guys recommend using neatsfoot oil, but I was wondering if mineral oil would do the trick? ...

Neatsfoot oil is the natural oil for leather. That i'm sure of. I use it on all my leather and on the pivots and blades of SR's (never a chance of contamination of any strop yo) I also use tallow.

I have no idea about this mineral oil. Maybe a little dab won't cause any probs. I'm sure there's a wiki where you can look at the molecular structures and normal uses.

I ignore the Nicks, doesn't seem to bother them.

I've used "New skin" a liquid band aid with great results. Flip the nick back apply "New skin" press it back in place. I have two nick's on my strop, you need to look close to see them and I don't detect them while stropping. Maybe worth a shot before sanding them out.

Hea guys what about MINK OIL?

aren't there many threads in the section discussing oils, compounds, goos, and treatments for stropping leather?

I thought this one was all about Stevie?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...il-strops.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...questions.html

I abhor using sandpaper or pumice stones.Sandpaper wears out as will pumice stones.Where to those particles Go?
I think they may get embeded in your strop,not a good thing I think.
I found the best way to smooth a strop is using a DMT 325 (well used) drop dead flat surface.