Thread: Waaaa!!

I just put a nice slice into my strop. It's a deep cut going into the center of the thickness of the strop, about 1/4 inch long and produced a flap.

I'm not sure how to fix this so the strop is usable again. I think I should cut the flap off, sand the area down with a pumice stone (don't know where to get one locally) and apply some strop dressing to the affected area.

The concern is that it will create a hollow that the razor will have to pass over. This is on the edge, right in the middle of the length of the strop.

Oh, and as to how this happened....let's just say it was late at night and I got stupid

Been there, done this (with sandpaper, but still)

Seems like a reasonable approach. Strop should work OK but just looking at mine is enough to make me cringe. I don't use it just because it's not pleasant...

Good luck
Ivo

Remember: honing is with the edge leading, stropping is with the edge trailing.

Hey Steve,

Bummer! I can help you out with one thing - I got my pumice stone from a chemist. It appears that some people like to soften the callouses and hard parts of their feet by rubbing them with a pumice stone. I figure if it's good enough for feet, it's good enough for a strop.

Good luck.

James.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Remember: honing is with the edge leading, stropping is with the edge trailing.

Oohh, that's the problem. I was doing it backwards

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hey Steve,

Bummer! I can help you out with one thing - I got my pumice stone from a chemist. It appears that some people like to soften the callouses and hard parts of their feet by rubbing them with a pumice stone. I figure if it's good enough for feet, it's good enough for a strop.

Good luck.

James.

Thanks James,

I've seen those stones in drug stores. I didn't know if they were the same thing needed for the strop (grit size differences so to speak).
I'll pick one up tonight.

Instead of cutting the flap off, you might be able to glue it back down.

Not sure what glue would work best on leather, but you'd want something that retains some flexibility when dry - I would ask around as to what the best glue would be (Tony Miller might have some good suggestions).

I think you'd also want to put a weight (a few large books would likely do) on the repair when drying to make sure it dries flat.

Others with more experience might be able to comment on this.

I would fear gluing the flap may create either a hard spot or a bump. Neither will be good for the edge. A dip or dimple (low spot) will not harm the edge or have any effect on stropping as it is such a small part of the entire surface the razor will pass over.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I would fear gluing the flap may create either a hard spot or a bump. Neither will be good for the edge. A dip or dimple (low spot) will not harm the edge or have any effect on stropping as it is such a small part of the entire surface the razor will pass over.

Tony

I think that's a good point about the gluing. As to the pumice, will the drug store variety do or is there a "special" pumice for leather?

Originally Posted by steve

I'm not sure how to fix this so the strop is usable again. I think I should cut the flap off, sand the area down with a pumice stone (don't know where to get one locally) and apply some strop dressing to the affected area.

I've done this a few months ago. Fired crying e-mail to Tony, etc. But I've basically fixed it the same way - cut it off, used 1000 grit sandpaper on the edges and used a tiny bit of dressing. Worked fine. Now the damage is mostly pshycological