Thread: Pattern forming on surface of my strop

I'm with Tim on this one. Plain hone wear should have no real effect on the strop. As long as it does its job, don't worry about the pattern.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

... As long as it does its job, don't worry about the pattern.

Unless it starts to take on the shape of a famous person or biblical figure. Then you should flog it on ebay for a small fortune.

James.

I'm going to guess that this is not unusual. My Latigo practice strop has exactly the same patina.

As long as it is maintaining your edge properly I wouldn't worry too much.

Originally Posted by welshwarrior

How's this? The lighter patches feel like a raised area to the touch.

Hey, that looks just like my ex-wife's butt! Where'd you get that strop?

^ You wish!

My TM Latigo strop devolops a similar pattern. If you apply some of the oil Tony gave you with it and rub it in it will fade. I think it is caused by the fact that the leather never is 100% flat. The bits slightly raised start to wear first and the Latigo dye and other finishing substances come off.

This uneven surface is why the process of breaking in strops was invented. I have yet to receive a strop that didn't require some breaking in to become uniformly flat.

PuFF

As mentioned no strop will be 100% flat without one of the rubbing, pressing, pumicing break in treatments. Most/many will be close....very usable close as received, no matter who the maker is.

I strive for very close and do a semi-breaking in so each is very usable upon receipt but I know guys like Puffah, etc... have their own process that is very labor inensive but takes them the final mile.

I had offered Welshwarrior a replacement a while back but he says he is a bit attached to this one and wants to give it a go. My offer always stands if he changes his mind.

Thanks,
Tony

Tony,
Only one strop from you out of the 6 or so pieces of leather you supplied has needed real breaking in. As you know, I am fussy to the point of being anal about it A small going over the latigo with fine paper will sort those high spots very quickly if you need to bother at all.

PuFF

Those patterns are the places where the razor touches the strop. By the look of it, looks like you are not conditioning your strop with you're palm, as suggested by Thierres Issard (daily rub with the palm, pre-stropping). My DOVO strop also develops these streaks, but they look darker than the strop surface, because it accumulates dirt from the palm oils. My Heirloom No.1 Latigo is less streaked, mailny because of the different tanning process...

No surface is idealy flat, let alone a razor's edge, and a leather strop.


Nenad