Thread: Question on viability of strop repair

I have a Star Shaving strop I bought as my first decent strop. I've since acquired a TM and others, but would still like to use this strop.
Problem is, I sliced the approximate middle of the strop early on with poor technique(went to flip and do a return stroke; razor did not flip, lol).




I repaired the cut with CA, and sanded down to 400. Strop is flexible, and the super glue is not hard , the strop feels nice and soft when I run my hand over it, but I can still feel the dip. There are no hard edges, nothing flapping about, and it is a dip, not a ridge. But I can feel it as the razor passes over it. I stropped one of my blades with it, and though I can feel it, there doesn't seem to have been any detrimental effects from passing over that with the edge of the blade.
But that is one single stropping session(about 20-30 laps).
Has anyone tried using a strop like this? Do any of you have any idea whether or not this area should be of concern?
I have about 10 inches of clear leather that I can still use on this strop, but I would dearly love to be able to ignore this injury and strop on.
Advice/opinions, please.

I can only guess,,, unless the cut reopens, then I would say use it. I might have gone a lot higher on the sanding.

Thsnks, Hirlau!
And I realize nobody would be able to tell me for certain; just looking for the collective wisdom of this forum to give me enough advice to make a more informed decision than I can on my own.
Much appreciated.

I would say use it until you can see/feel any detrimental effects on the blade. If the dip bothers you alot, you could try sanding the dip so that it is more progressive along the strop.

Originally Posted by dinnermint

I would say use it until you can see/feel any detrimental effects on the blade. If the dip bothers you alot, you could try sanding the dip so that it is more progressive along the strop.

Thanks.
I would sand the dip lot more, but I am afraid I would sand through the top layer of "skin" or dermis of the strop, and into the underside, or suede, which I don't think is desirable, from all I have read of strop repair.
Besides, nicks and cuts are a part of the nature and history of strops. As long as the strop is still useable, I think they give them character.

Of course you can't tell about the depth of the cut in a picture however not withstanding any repair work that is a major cut. if it was me I'd probably toss it or cut it into two short strops and make a travel strop out of it.

Before I put the plug in the jug again, in '09, I was running along stropping my Tony Miller horse/latigo and did a slice something like that. If you're going to drink, don't strop.

I used Dorco Contact Cement (learned to use that stuff when I was pro carpet layer) I sanded a bit after it cured and you can hardly see it let alone feel it. So to answer your question definitively ........... it depends.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If you're going to drink, don't strop.

Few wiser words have ever been said in all of human history.

I had a small cut on a strop and I was told to use 1000 grit sandpaper (automotive) and it worked very well. The main thing is that nothing is pertruding from the cut. Run the back of your hand along the strop, and make sure nothing is sticking out from where it was damaged. Personally I would just buy another strop unless it is some vintage strop you're trying to save. The dip shouldnt be an issue unless you notice your straight razor dipping in the groove as you strop. I have no experience with super glue but I would assume you wouldn't want much at all on the surface cause than your basically stropping on top of glue oppose to leather.

No offense, but unless it cost a lot, I would toss it or put it to some other use instead of using it and potentially damaging an edge. I'd get a new strop.