Stop stripes, flaps -- troubleshooting help please

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Hello,
For a while now I've noted that I damaged the lower right corner of my Walkin' Horse strop. (IOW, the corner on the right, closest to the rings that I hold.) I have trimmed off the flaps or glued them down, when able. I have lightly sanded it, but have never really gotten that area to be smooth.

I have also noticed the parallel stripes you can also see on this image, and they are fairly close to the other damaged area.

I pay pretty close attention, I thought, to keeping a light touch on the razor, keeping the spine against the leather, keeping the strop taut, etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks

I would guess that the edge damage is from the stabilizer dragging on the edge of the leather. The parallel stripes? I have no idea. I highly doubt you could have brought the stabilizer that far over.

That is really helpful. I will pay attention to the placement of the stabilizer on the strop.

This pic is right after stropping my Dovo Bismarck. I am now wondering if the stripes are from the spine? The Bismarck has parallel cutouts -- I will check to see if they match up .

Maybe I am putting too much pressure on the spine, in an effort to keep pressure off the edge?

Just realized should have posted this under "Stopping" so will start a new thread there.

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Originally Posted by 400E

That is really helpful. I will pay attention to the placement of the stabilizer on the strop.

This pic is right after stropping my Dovo Bismarck. I am now wondering if the stripes are from the spine? The Bismarck has parallel cutouts -- I will check to see if they match up .

Maybe I am putting too much pressure on the spine, in an effort to keep pressure off the edge?

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Yes! A spine like that can do that to a strop if you are still moving along the strop while you are rolling the razor over the figured spine. With that razor you will have to come to a complete stop before flipping the razor over.

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Originally Posted by 400E

Just realized should have posted this under "Stopping" so will start a new thread there.

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I think autocorrection is hitting you hard.

You can ask a moderator to just move this thread for you rather than having duplicate threads.

Attachment 265796

I mistakenly started this thread under "strops" so restarting it here.
I am trying to troubleshoot my stropping technique. For a while now I've noticed that I am cutting up the strop on the corner nearest my hand on the right side of the strop Utopion thinks the cutting damage is from the stabilizer.

I am wondering if the parallel stripes are from the decorative notches on the spine of my Bismarck.

So -- to tie these together -- am I just applying too much pressure?

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. ;)

Attachment 265945

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

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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

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Someone's not using their x-stroke!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 400E

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

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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