Thread: Nicked Strop...

Hey all, Yup, I did it! I nicked my strop. It has a slight smile just on the surface most of the way accross the surface near the handle. It's a TM starter strop. I've read that you can use sand paper tofix it? Is this true, if so, what grit? Thanks

I had to glue my nick before sanding it... i did i good job nicking it.

I used 800 grit and then used a light layer of neatsfoot oil.

This was on my older Jemico though.

PM Tony and ask him what he feels would be best for your strop. He will know and will get back to you fast.

Sanding a strop does work, but if it's only for a nick I would just leave it. Does the nick affect stropping (i.e. does it make a little raised area on the surface that you can feel when you strop over it)? If it doesn't affect stropping than I really wouldn't worry about it, but if it does sanding it would be your best option. I've used 400 or 600 grit, and I think I tried 1000 once....

If you're thinking about going that route, first make sure to buy a quality brand of sandpaper as you don't want those little particles getting into your strop. But I would just start on a really fine grit first, then see how the leather responds. If you'd like it sanded more, then go to a coarser grit. It would be a shame to start on a coarse grit to later find out that it was too rough and damage your strop.

But as I mentioned, only sand it if you need to. No sense creating extra work for yourself!

Dave

leather is as soft as...butter so you want a very fine sandpaper. Probably 1000 or finer. personally I use a pumice stone which they sell at CS. it does the job.

If it is not really in the way of using the strop I would just leave it alone for now and continue to use the strop. It is likely you will nick it a few more times anyway.

I am more of a fan of sanding or trimming off the flap than I am on gluing it. Maybe with contact cement you could get it to lay flat again but in most cases you will have a raised bump and glue on the surface. I'd rather have a well sanded duip below the surface myself.

I would use a 400 to 600 grit, wet/dry automotice sand paper. The kind used to sand body putty after the mailbox leans over and bumps into your car <g>

Tony

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

If you're thinking about going that route, first make sure to buy a quality brand of sandpaper as you don't want those little particles getting into your strop.


Dave

I should have given more detail after reading the other respoces..

I glued it CAREFULLY under the nick with leather super glue and then placed a heavy book on it overnight. I then sanded the area with 800 grit paper carefully and lightly till it was smooth wihich dident take much. I then sanded the whole surface lightly so it was even and smooth. Over the next 2 days I left it on the kitchen table so it was in my face so to speak and everytime I saw it I would rub it down with the palms of my hand to clean it off. The I used a light coat of neatsfoot oil with paper towel and left it for a few hours before starting to rub it with my hands again. It came out really good BUT being it was an older Jemcio I was not to worried if i screwed it up. The process was easy and the advice i got here was priceless

I agree with Dave that using a quality sandpaper is key.

Well, that sounds like it's worked, but now I'm afraid to nick my new strop

Originally Posted by rrp1501

Hey all, Yup, I did it! I nicked my strop. It has a slight smile just on the surface most of the way accross the surface near the handle. It's a TM starter strop. I've read that you can use sand paper tofix it? Is this true, if so, what grit? Thanks

At least it's near the end, near the handle. I would listen to Tony's adivce +1

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

If it is not really in the way of using the strop I would just leave it alone for now and continue to use the strop. It is likely you will nick it a few more times anyway.

I am more of a fan of sanding or trimming off the flap than I am on gluing it. Maybe with contact cement you could get it to lay flat again but in most cases you will have a raised bump and glue on the surface. I'd rather have a well sanded duip below the surface myself.

I would use a 400 to 600 grit, wet/dry automotice sand paper. The kind used to sand body putty after the mailbox leans over and bumps into your car <g>

Tony

Thanks Tony, I do have some of that here, I was attacked by my mailbox this past summer!