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Hey guys, what am I doing wrong that is causing nicks in the D-ring end of my Big Daddy strop?
I didn't get many in the past but lately I seem to see more. I sit when I strop and was wondering if I should stand or does it matter?
I am not going real fast either so that is not the cause as far as I know.
There are no nicks on the end connected to my bench.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Here is a picture of the damage:
Attachment 143288
If you are like I was, you have no flipped the blade completely to the spine before setting the edge down and starting the return stroke.
Usually when I am inattentive it happens,
~Richard
Flipping the blade a bit before it comes to a halt, I'd guess. Cut that out.
You can buff those off with some fine sandpaper or a fingernail file.
Thanks guys. I put a tiny drop of superglue under one and put it back down but I don't know if that's a good idea or not.
The edges do not appear to be Chamfered,just 90 deg cut,if the strop is cupping at all that may be part of the problem.
Stop! That's alot of nicks!
Put the strop down flat on the table and strop there until you can learn the flip properly using the right pressure which is virtually no pressure at all. Once you've learned the flip properly, the muscle memory and all, then consider hanging it.
I'm still on a bench strop and haven't nicked more than one minor nick. I leave the pasted strop hanging, but since I strop pretty much every night. The muscle memory is there, so I've been ok with that now.
Hope that helps.
As you come to the end of the lap you should lift the edge up. As you stop the edge should be in the air. You should be moving in the return lap before the edge comes back in contact with the strop. Hope this helps. Go slow and speed up slowly.
Think of stropping as a motion in progress. When the motion either stops or is interrupted, then you tend to dig the edge into the strop at that point. So long as the edge is moving away in one direction and when you roll the razor on the spine to change directions, the edge will also be moving away when it hits the strop, you should be fine. This really becomes a rhythm and is fluid motion. When any part of this rhythm is changed by being tentative, a lapse in concentration (not that obsessive concentration when stropping is good), change in the tautness of the strop in the middle of a stroke, change in grip in the middle of a stroke, change in speed in the middle of a stroke or things like these, it will cause the edge to stop from moving away and at that point, nick the strop. I guess the point I am trying to make is that so long as the edge is moving away (trailing) on the strop during your stropping regiment, You should find that you will either not nick up your strop or nick it less.
Have fun.
Blogs might help you
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...s/index13.html
Thanks for the link.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsell63
I nicked up my first strop pretty bad as well. It always happened when I tried to go too fast. Slowing down helped a lot though it took a lot of patience. Once the muscle memory set in the speed comes and more naturally.
.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
Hi Richard thats cool and rare that u offer services that r usually charged 4. Even though we live on both coasts id really like to learn anything you van show
I solved the problem of nicking my strop by turning my hanging strop into a hanging BENCH strop. I found some 3/16 or 1/8 particle board free at the lumberyard off cuts bin (they give it away). Cut it the width of my strop by about 2, 2-1/2 inches short of the strop length. Put it between the linen and the leather with Velcro straps top and bottom. No room in bathroom for a bench strop, lots of room for hanging. Nary a nick since!
Thanks guys. I am no longer nicking it as I have concentrated more on the motion.
It's best not to have a couple of beers before stropping as well I have found. :rofl2:
I also need to learn how to strop properly. Am afraid of nicking it, but need to practice a lot :)
Proudmarinedad it sounds like you have corrected your issue, but for anyone else, I had a problem when I first started as well, and ended up throwing away an Illinois strop. I was afraid to buy a high quality one for fear of ruining that too, until I found Classic Edge's stropping boards, basically bench strops as previously described. At 25 bucks a piece I bought 1 leather board and 1 felt board, and practiced that for a few months actually, before committing to another expensive hanging strop. I then bought an SRD English bridal leather strop and haven't had a single nick. I attribute it to both the reduced stress of a less expensive strop, and the stability of a flat, motionless stropping surface. Both eased my mind and gave the confidence to improve my stroke, rather than worrying about damaging the strop.
I'm not sure I like the beer part being left out.....but sure sounds like you made the changes to improve, it's just that one.......
