Thread: need to fix my strop

my nan got me a straight razor and strop for xmas and the strop has cuts and nicks allover the leather
what do i do
also the blade needs to be polished on the razor but i dont want to sand it
its an old griffin razor ill try and send pics when i get home

Yup, pics would help.

The cuts are from flipping while the razor is still moving forward. Stop the razor, then flip. Cuts in a strop are common, slow down

There are tons of information on razor restoration in the Library and Workshop forum. Begin with a good cleaning with WD40 and 000 steelwool followed with a good metal polish, mothers, Maas, and Flitz are 3, I use frequently.

i dont wanna use sand paper or wool on mine coz the blade is really thin its a griffon xx 00
and the strop has really bad cuts in it coz its really old its from the old gold mines in Kalgoorlie
it has something written on the leather but i cant read it and the wood needs re finishing

its similar to this but more cut up and the handle is in better shape

fount this pic on google my razor has the same dark marks on the blade

Too thin for steel wool? I can't imagine, do you have the razor in hand? Or the strop?, if the leather is that far gone just replace the leather no big deal, the razor if you don't want to use anything on it, just get it honed and shave, by steel wool won't hurt it. Tc

If the leather is old cracking and nicled like that in the photo you will want to replace it. I use full hollow razors and sanding or buffing with low grits is common to clean up razors. If your razor doesn't have rust or pitting just patina then use autosol available from supercheap to polish it up.

the edge is perfect and razor sharp
i only want to clean it up so it looks good
im not sure if you can call the stuff on the blade just above the edge rust but its not damaging the blade

The edge being sharp makes it harder and pretty well limits you to hand polishing unless you want to rehone. You cant really completely get it with out killing the edge. Personally I would clean it up and rehone but I have a full buffer setup and like honing. Either that or wait till it needs a touch up anyhow and do it then.

i actually tried cleaning it up last night with some 1500 or 3000 grit cant remember which one because all my sandpaper is ripped up
worked good and didn't ruin the edge because i was incredibly careful