Thread: Problem with stropping

Just started stropping and it started to make lines about 1/16 of and inch up the blade from the edge. Is this normal or should I stop using the strop.

Is the strop making the lines on the razor or is the razor making lines on the strop? If its the razor making lines on the strop examine the razor's edge for problems.

It's making lines on the very edge of the blade.

I'm puzzled. Lets hope some one with wider knowledge than me chimes in soon. I've only seen the opposite where the blade leaves scratch lines on the strop.

A plain leather strop can't put marks into the blade. You are probably seeing leather from the strop being put on the blade. Do the marks come off easily?

It's not a pasted strop is it?

Line as in it is polishing the blade above the edge? I am also confused. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Is there something on the strop, that's coming off onto the blade?

. . . If so, clean the surface of the strop.

I've never cleaned a strop. Saddle soap and water might work OK. A cloth _dampened_ with rubbing alcohol might work.

. Charles

G'day Owen
I'll assume it is a new strop?
The line is at the top edge of your bevel & possibly on the spine edge & The same colour as you strop?
If so don't worry a great deal it is the tanning stuff of the leather surface breaking down,
my Star shaving Big Daddy strop did this for a fair while at first until I broke it in with lather & a bottle after that it stopped leaving the lines
Hope it helps

My TM Latigo did this for awhile. It was tanning by products, dye, and possibly crud from my hand rubbed on the strop. Rubbing a clean damp towel on the strop removed the residues leaching out of the leather and cured the problem. It took about a month of daily stropping and three to five rub downs to make the problem go away. The strop surface gets damp, but dries fast. My TM horse hide and English bridle have not had this issue. If I sense any buildup on the strop surface, I clean it again with a slightly damp towel. So far, this cleaning and hand rubbing has been all that my strops have needed.

It almost looks like lines from putting steel wool on metal. I'm guessing that it was from honing it but only now after I've started stropping that I see it and that's why I was worried. Sadly I can't get a picture but I'll try again when I can include a picture of it. Thanks for the help I'll see what I can do.