Thread: Stop stripes, flaps -- troubleshooting help please

My guess for the edge cuts is that you are not reversing direction quick enough while you are flipping the razor at the end of your stroke. That leads to a slight stop or even slight backwards movement of the edge on the strop resulting in cuts. Been there and done that too.

Check and see if there are rough or sharp edges where decorative notches are on your Bismarck. That could very be the problem. I have had a burr on the edge leave fine scratches in the strop also. Maybe check the edge with a loupe too.

The only pressure you need while stropping is enough to keep the spine and edge in contact while just skimming along the leather.

Bob

In checking the stripes, these are in fact caused by the spine notches on the Bismarck.

I appreciate the help!

Also, I checked my 2 razors - in addition to the Bismarck, I have a square point Nate's Straight. Neither of them have a stabilizer, so I am going to monitor my reversing at the end of each lap to see if I am not reversing correctly as Bob points out.

Now that you've figured out the cause, you'll have to condition the leather to remove the marks.

Most probably from the heel of the blade and/or stabilizer. This oil tanned Russian works great. Not a cut or nick in it (kinda homely though). The wear began to develop shortly after I got it

Originally Posted by Phoenix51

Most probably from the heel of the blade and/or stabilizer. This oil tanned Russian works great. Not a cut or nick in it (kinda homely though). The wear began to develop shortly after I got it

Someone's not using their x-stroke!

Originally Posted by 400E

In checking the stripes, these are in fact caused by the spine notches on the Bismarck.

I appreciate the help!

Also, I checked my 2 razors - in addition to the Bismarck, I have a square point Nate's Straight. Neither of them have a stabilizer, so I am going to monitor my reversing at the end of each lap to see if I am not reversing correctly as Bob points out.

If none of your razors have stabilizers, then it is obvious that I was wrong and Bob was right. Now, given that this reversing damage only is happening on the edge of the strop rather than in a full line across the strop, you have another issue to correct. Apparently you are not keeping the razor flat on the strop. Instead, you are lowering the tang and lifting the point end of the razor off of the strop. This might only be happening at the end of the stroke when you flip the blade, but it is something to watch.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If none of your razors have stabilizers, then it is obvious that I was wrong and Bob was right. Now, given that this reversing damage only is happening on the edge of the strop rather than in a full line across the strop, you have another issue to correct. Apparently you are not keeping the razor flat on the strop. Instead, you are lowering the tang and lifting the point end of the razor off of the strop. This might only be happening at the end of the stroke when you lift the strop, but it is something to watch.

Another really good point (no pun intended) -- will watch for this.
thanks

Originally Posted by 400E

Another really good point (no pun intended) -- will watch for this.
thanks

I need to clarify what I wrote in the last sentence. Where I wrote "lift the strop," I meant "flip the blade on the strop."

Less pressure might be part of the answer to your problem.

Slawman