Thread: Odd question about strops

From my own experience the rough side is not as smooth of a shave. I use the rough side instead of a fabric sometimes and then go onto the smooth leather.

Sounds like you may have answered your own question. If the shave feels good...?

Originally Posted by jfk742

Sounds like you may have answered your own question. If the shave feels good...?

I guess I am wondering if it could improve when I get around to replacing it, or perhaps allow me to go longer between stropping on the balsam (about once a week at this point).

Whatever works for you is fine. However, since you've learned to properly strop, you haven't had the opportunity to strop your razor on a smooth, quality piece of leather, which I'd highly recommend.

So, what happens when you strop on the smooth, nicked side? Have you tried gluing up the cuts with rubber cement?

Stropping is an acquired skill. It probably takes about a year before most new shavers are consistently improving an edge. Up to that point it probably does not make much difference.

You can improve the rough side of the leather by scraping it smooth with a cabinet card scraper, or large sharp kitchen knife. Lay the strop flat on a counter and take short light pass with the blade held 90 degrees to the strop. As you remove the uneven leather it will get smoother and you can take longer smoother strokes. If done properly, you will end up with a finish similar to a napped suede like finish.

Once your stropping improves, buy a better-quality strop and your edges will improve further.

Here is the current state of the smooth side of the strop.

Glue down the flaps with rubber cement and sand the cut once dry.

Start with some 400 and a hard backer to try to smooth it out. Can you flip the strop so you are stropping on the other non cut edge?

If that does not work, scrape the back.

I was thinking the same. If possible, Take strop apart and flip it around. Then your stropping on the other edge. Still, sand out and glue. This will keep bad things from happening for now. Your a bigger man than I. I wouldn't show what I did to my first. It went in the trash as soon as I bought a second. Ashamed is the word. But it happens to most of us in the beginning.