What am I doing wrong to cause nicks in the strop?

**ProudMarineDad** · 10-14-2013, 08:33 PM

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:

Name: Strop 001.jpg
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Name: Strop 001.jpg
Views: 463
Size: 39.5 KB

**Geezer** · 10-14-2013, 08:37 PM

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

**MisterMoo** · 10-14-2013, 08:39 PM

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.

**ProudMarineDad** · 10-14-2013, 08:42 PM

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.

**pixelfixed** · 10-14-2013, 08:48 PM

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.

**Siguy** · 10-14-2013, 10:37 PM

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.

**eddy79** · 10-16-2013, 01:57 AM

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.

**Lynn** · 10-16-2013, 02:30 PM

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.