Thread: Strop Bumps?

I just recently purchased a strop which I received on Saturday. After using a practice strop for a couple days, I started on the 'good' one.

Last night I noticed that the strop has a slightly raised bump in the middle of it, about the width of of a large pimple or boil, and on either side of this bump the strop is turning darker with grey/black streaks.

I need to pick up my wife's camera from my parents' house tonight and get some pictures of it to send to the place I bought it from to see what they say about it before going into any more detail here, but do you think it is possible I could have done any harm to my razor as a result of this?

If you're talking about the leather you could rub the area with pumice stone and flatten it out. If it is the linen washing in Woolite and drying on a flat surface should get the lump out. If it is brand new strop purchased from a vendor a replacement might be the way to go. Dunno if it would hurt the edge. Wouldn't do it any good is my guess. How does it shave ?

It's in the leather.

Like I said, I want to get some pictures off to the seller before I try doing anything on my own.

It's hard to tell about the razor. I bought is as 'shave ready' form the classifieds, and shaved with it once before receiving the strop. While it did shave then, and also off the practice strop, it wasn't the most confortable or close shave and I could just write that off to needing to work on technique. When I tried to use it last night, it would hardly cut anything, but again, being new to this, do I write it off as needing to refine my stropping technique?

I suppose that until I have someone look at it, it is possible that I may just be over-reacting and making more of this than necessary; however, after reading about how bad high spots on strops supposedly are it kind of has me worried about sending any razors out for re-honing.

If it's an Illinois #827 then that's just the way they come. You can flatten it out a bit with a glass.

After having another look at it tonight in preparation for photos, it definitely didn't look as bad as I thought I remembered, so I am just going to chalk this up to noob over-reacting.

I took some 1500 grit wet/dry to the spot and then buffed it out on my pants leg, followed by a rub down with my hands and now I can hardly even tell it's there, except for a slightly darker color. I am not sure it will be any more of a problem than any nicks I put in it will be.

I think that if the razor's edge is damaged, it is probably just my inexperienced stropping ability.

Originally Posted by kreigle

I think that if the razor's edge is damaged, it is probably just my inexperienced stropping ability.

When I first learned to strop I killed an edge because of my technique. It's surprising how easy it is to do.

Dave

Just a side note, if anyone ever has an issue with one of my products just ask. I'm always here to make things right.

Thanks,
Tony

You bet Tony, as are we!!



Lynn

Thanks Lynn. Every once in a while a wild one escapes and winds up in a customer's hands!

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Just a side note, if anyone ever has an issue with one of my products just ask. I'm always here to make things right.

Thanks,
Tony

Thanks Tony. If your strop gives me any trouble, I'll be sure to email you.

I don't know much about strops yet, but yours is so soft, it feels like microfiber cloth. I love it.

I put a hundred or more laps of the 'dulled' razor on your strop (until I nicked it - shouldn't let myself strop late at night) and I figured out that I've been using too much pressure 'cause it seems to be getting better now.

The member I bought the razor from offered to fix my blundering for me, so if it's not looking better by Monday, it will go in the mail.