Is My Strop FUBAR?

**bassguy** · 10-25-2009, 04:54 AM

For your consideration I have attached some pictures of my Tony Miller Travel strop. It's been my sole strop all this time, and a trusty companion. It has taken the brunt of my learning curve unfortunately. Recently while stropping a blade with an annoyingly lose pivot pin I gashed the leather pretty bad. I've taken the ol' pumice to the strop once or twice already, but now I'm at a loss, this damage seems quite extreme to me.
I'm getting better, but it was rough learning the proper technique. At least one that doesn't chisel leather every shave.

**sdsquarepoint** · 10-25-2009, 06:01 AM

How ironic. I just put a little slice in a home made veg tan leather strop.

Tonight I took a utility razor blade and sliced athe flap. Then examined with a jewelers loup. Rubbed a sanding block with 600 grit while wet. took out the gash. I then after it dried I put simple dovo yellow stripe conditioning dressing on it and it is good to go.

Perhaps examine it with a little magnification and push against the side to see if a some flap should be razors off before another pumice or sand paper treatment.
Good luck. MikeB

**cubed1** · 10-25-2009, 09:26 AM

BassGuy,

Your strop is ok. The new slice looks sandable because you didn't seem to cut a flap. Other than that it looks as if you should put some neatsfoot oil on the spots you've repaired already to refinish it. The oher option which will make your strop look close to new is a complete sanding and re-conditioning. All you need is a sander, fine grit paper, and a block to hang your stop on; plus strop conditioner. Should take about 30 min to complete and a 12+ hours for the strop to cure.

Good Luck and feel free to PM!

**Seraphim** · 10-25-2009, 11:36 AM

If all else fails, this is a perfectly good excuse to go out and buy a new strop!!!

**mainaman** · 10-25-2009, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Seraphim

If all else fails, this is a perfectly good excuse to go out and buy a new strop!!!

and the healthy part of this one can be made into CrO paddle strop if all else fails.

**bassguy** · 10-26-2009, 06:17 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I have some sandpaper en route at the moment, when it gets here I shall sand and dress it up. In the meantime I have a piece of latigo from Tony on stand by. I tend to prefer the way horsehide feels, the latigo is too stiff and make me feel like I can't control the weight (or lack thereof) of the blade on the strop. Practice practice practice...

**persco** · 10-26-2009, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by bassguy

Thanks for all the replies. I have some sandpaper en route at the moment, when it gets here I shall sand and dress it up. In the meantime I have a piece of latigo from Tony on stand by. I tend to prefer the way horsehide feels, the latigo is too stiff and make me feel like I can't control the weight (or lack thereof) of the blade on the strop. Practice practice practice...

The latigo will actually break in pretty nicely with use. Mine, too was really stiff. I just kept using it and now it's getting very nice. The latigo puts a nice edge on the blade, I then finish with laps on a Kanoyama cordovan strop. The combo makes for a really good edge.

s.

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