Thread: Fixing nicks

Ok my noobie stropping hand has put a few nicks in my new strop. None are in the middle of the strop but are along the edge. I seem to be causing them after I turn the razor over. For some reason I'm making small movements with the blade causing the nicks. First, will this affect the blade when stropping? Second, what's the best way to fix these nicks? I've heard using a pumice stone works well but before attempting it I would like someone to explain the actual procedure or give an alternate method. Thanks.

As long as you dont do a major slice and really hammer the edge you should be fine. Small slices wont dull the razor or irreparably damage the strop. Big cuts will knacker the strop, and can dull the edge some as well..!

Have a look at this Wiki article on strop repair. It explains the steps to go through to repair slices. Really tiny little nicks can be sanded out with high grit sandpaper or a pumice stone as you say.

And dont worry about little nicks like this, we've all done it and they are easily repairable. Heck, my first strop has so many repaired nicks you'd think Freddy Kruegar had been at it lol..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks Stu. First for the help and then for the encouragement.

Don't know what it is or why I do it. I flip the razor and end up pushing or pulling the blade into the strop. Very small movement but the nicks seem to be adding up. They're all on the right side as well as I do a left to right X pattern. I'm trying to be more careful but its almost as if it's a unconscious movement on my part.

Did you check the stropping article in the Wiki? If not, it has the explanation for your problem

Originally Posted by bmc1979

Don't know what it is or why I do it. I flip the razor and end up pushing or pulling the blade into the strop. Very small movement but the nicks seem to be adding up. They're all on the right side as well as I do a left to right X pattern. I'm trying to be more careful but its almost as if it's a unconscious movement on my part.

This is usually caused by pausing while flipping the razor over. It's best to have the razor in motion when the blade hits the leather for the next stroke. It also helps to keep your wrist level with the strop, as some people have the tendency to drop their wrist a bit (this results in nicks on the right side of the strop.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

This is usually caused by pausing while flipping the razor over. It's best to have the razor in motion when the blade hits the leather for the next stroke. It also helps to keep your wrist level with the strop, as some people have the tendency to drop their wrist a bit (this results in nicks on the right side of the strop.

Thanks for the advice. You know I do actually pause when I flip because I'm trying to take my time and not screw it up. I'll try and make the whole motion more fluid and see if that makes a difference.

Contact cement used according to directions should do the trick if it's not too bad.

May i ask how wide your strop is...if it is as wide if not wider than the blade then really an x-pattern isnt really necessary, but i started on a dovo strop where an x-pattern was so i can sympathise with you on the nicks ....i just saneded them out and used a little strop dressing...rough but effective.

hope you didnt mind me chiming in...simon

I recently purchased a Dovo black Micarta Inxox on Ebay. It felt sharp. I was planning on shaving with it tommorrow. WHile stropping it on a black laitgo strop made by lucas on Ebay it seemed to scratch the strop & I noticed black particles on the blade.
I don't know if these are nicks or burrs. To the naked eye the blade seemed to be even. I have an array of stones ranging from a Case soft Arkansas stone, an translucent Arkansas stone, a chinese hone-12000 grit, Norton 4k-8k combo stone, a vinatage barber hone, and a balsa-diamond coated strop and a felt chromium coated strop. The razor does pop arm hairs, but I don't want what happened to the strop to happen to my face. What stones that I possess will take the burrs out? THank you.

Originally Posted by bmc1979

Thanks for the advice. You know I do actually pause when I flip because I'm trying to take my time and not screw it up. I'll try and make the whole motion more fluid and see if that makes a difference.

Just have to thank you again Ryan. Tried this on the weekend and I don't think I cause a single nick.

Originally Posted by coully

May i ask how wide your strop is...if it is as wide if not wider than the blade then really an x-pattern isnt really necessary, but i started on a dovo strop where an x-pattern was so i can sympathise with you on the nicks ....i just saneded them out and used a little strop dressing...rough but effective.

hope you didnt mind me chiming in...simon

No worries. I appreciate any and all input. To answer your question, it's 2.5" wide so the X pattern I use is very slight but is still there.




I'll probably be getting some contact cement this week and fixing it. Now for some of the nicks, if there's no flap, can I just fill the indent with cement and sand it or should I just sand the nick down a bit without filling it in? thanks