Thread: I destroyed my brand new strop in 3 weeks with nicks

Yes, I'm in Fairfax. I can provide lessons. You can stop by my apartment practically any evening. Weekends would be great too.

If you can come up with a decent night out for my wife I might even be willing to show up at your place and provide lessons. Problem is that they usually take a few hours. I usually teach honing classes rather then stropping, so that would be easy.

PM if you have any interest. I don't really have time to post much anymore but I have a pretty decent amount of experience and knowledge. You might PM an Admin if you have doubts.

And, welcome to the forum. ;-)

I wanted to type just the word...."DUDE"...but I the system won't let me..
Very generous Mr.AFDavis11

Originally Posted by a_macdiarmid

the only way i can see that your putting cuts in it like that is at the end of a stroke/beginning of the next your accidentally going in reverse when you want to be in drive. (even if its just slightly). try going real slow on the flip, but as fast as your comfortable on the stroke.

or maybe im missing something.

hope this helps

Seems like you're right. What else could it be but sudden shifts in reverse anticipating the flip? It's like a golf swing. One bad habbit developed--you never make par again.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Yes, I'm in Fairfax. I can provide lessons. You can stop by my apartment practically any evening. Weekends would be great too.

If you can come up with a decent night out for my wife I might even be willing to show up at your place and provide lessons. Problem is that they usually take a few hours. I usually teach honing classes rather then stropping, so that would be easy.

PM if you have any interest. I don't really have time to post much anymore but I have a pretty decent amount of experience and knowledge. You might PM an Admin if you have doubts.

And, welcome to the forum. ;-)

AFDavis11, I'd love to come by after work in the next couple of weeks to soak up the wisdom. I could bring by my few poor goods (including the high-end DOVO strop I ruined). Do you have a jewels loupe? Would love to know if I've also managed to damage my blade (sigh). Send PM.

If you stop the stroke before you lift the edge from the strop you are going to nick it
Its werry hard to come to a full stop without reversing
Same about completing the turn before you start the stroke
its real easy to get a twitch the wrong way
_,_.________________._,__ if you stop at the comma the edge should be off the strop by the dot and not reach the strop before you reach the dot again

Bad illustration i know but i cant be bothered to draw anything right now

Your lucky to have someone near to show you the tricks

Only you can know how you did it. Surely you felt each of those knicks.

When learning to strop, its best to take things slow and train your muscle memory the proper motions. Once those motions are engrained, speed will come naturally.

You really want to be careful about the flip. The stropping stroke itself should be swift, but slow down and flip very consciously, then do another swift stroke. As you are ending each stroke, the edge of the razor should be starting to lift off the strop, and you should lay the edge down slightly after you have begun the next stroke.

I would also agree that you should repair this strop. No use in buying another one until you know you aren't going to cut it to shreds.

Originally Posted by janivar123

If you stop the stroke before you lift the edge from the strop you are going to nick it
Its werry hard to come to a full stop without reversing
Same about completing the turn before you start the stroke
its real easy to get a twitch the wrong way
_,_.________________._,__ if you stop at the comma the edge should be off the strop by the dot and not reach the strop before you reach the dot again

Bad illustration i know but i cant be bothered to draw anything right now

Your lucky to have someone near to show you the tricks

Exactly. You want to lift the edge off slightly just before the stroke is complete, so it's just riding on the spine before you stop moving. Then you flip. Then when you start the return stroke, you want to be moving before the edge actually hits the strop. Slow practice is the way to build muscle memory.

Originally Posted by jimrobb

AFDavis11, I'd love to come by after work in the next couple of weeks to soak up the wisdom. I could bring by my few poor goods (including the high-end DOVO strop I ruined). Do you have a jewels loupe? Would love to know if I've also managed to damage my blade (sigh). Send PM.

I will fix your razor too. I do not currently know where my microscope is but I can teach you how to hone, test, and fix the razor without one.

jimrobb,

This guy will set you straight. It's a great offer from a knowledgable guy. If you need, I am willing to fix your strop. PM me and I will get you my shipping info.

It could be made usable again with work.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I will fix your razor too. I do not currently know where my microscope is but I can teach you how to hone, test, and fix the razor without one.

-Rob

Originally Posted by markevens

Only you can know how you did it. Surely you felt each of those knicks.

When learning to strop, its best to take things slow and train your muscle memory the proper motions. Once those motions are engrained, speed will come naturally.

You really want to be careful about the flip. The stropping stroke itself should be swift, but slow down and flip very consciously, then do another swift stroke. As you are ending each stroke, the edge of the razor should be starting to lift off the strop, and you should lay the edge down slightly after you have begun the next stroke.

I would also agree that you should repair this strop. No use in buying another one until you know you aren't going to cut it to shreds.

I did alot of damage to my first strop too and never felt a single nick I put into it. Didn't know they were ther till I was done stropping and took a good look at it.

To the op, you have alot of nicks but none of them appear to be real bad. You should be able to sand them right our and your strop will work (not look) good as new. That's what I did, strop works just fine, just ain't pretty.