Thread: Strop damage

I've been a bit stupid and impatient when stropping my Dovo and have put some nicks in the strop which have little bits of leather standing proud! Its damn annoying, and I wish I hadnt doneit- but how do i fix it?

Any help appreciated.
Ps its a small DOVO strop.

Best way I've found is to clip or cut off the flap of leather (if the gouge isn't too deep - if it's really deep, I hear you can crazy glue it back in place without too much trouble), and then use a pumice stone to gently sand the leather down until it is flat again. Then I rub my hand on the strop a lot to make sure that no grit has made its way onto the strop. Once that's done, rub some Neatsfoot oil on the strop, and let dry for at least 24 hours.

Of course, YMMV.

Mark

Thats what I was thinking, thanks a lot- I've got a wee pumice stone in the bathroom and also a few granite pebbles so that should do it!

Its one of the most annoying things I've done as the strop was so smooth!

Just make sure the pumice is very fined grained. Some of the stuff they sell for rock gardens and the like can be too coarse for a strop.

Well, on the bright side, your NEXT strop is going to be just beautiful!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Just make sure the pumice is very fined grained. Some of the stuff they sell for rock gardens and the like can be too coarse for a strop.

Ohh I didn't know that. I guess I may have buggered my strop then, coz I was using a natural pumice, that you use for your feet, rather than one of them man made ones.

Don't worry, they're pretty much the same. I had one of the ones from ClassicShaving, and it was pretty much identical to one sold for feet.

Another trick I've used that works, (I believe someone on the old forum found it in a barber manual somewhere) is once you've cut off the tab that sticks up, put a drop of water on the raw leather where the nick used to be. Then press the strop under a book or a piece of glass, something flat. The water will swell the leather to the level of the rest of the strop. After that, rub vigorously with a glass bottle to smooth the texture and re-condition.
It works.


John P.

Some time ago I was trying to show my GF how to strop... I was telling her the theoretical basis of it and allowed her to try it herself. I was bloodless when I saw the blade going all the way over the strop, meaning a stropping motion with the blade leading! Nothing happend. Not even the slightest nick. On the other hand, after this incident, I was stropping and nicked the crap out of my strop... a big chuncky chunck nick...
I managed to fix it by sanding a bit. It's ok to use but is in line for some serious refurbishing. I'll sand it down and then apply some moisturizing cream or oil...
Just my 2 cents...

If it's just some fuzziness form small nicks at the turning point of the razor, fine sanding with a pumice stone or 200+ grit sandpaper will work.
If the cut(s) is/are deeper, than you can glue them flush first with some CA-glue first, and then sand it to perfection. In both cases a bit of strop dressing completes the repair job.

I'm very experienced in nicking strops, trust me.

Bart.