Thread: Best way to smooth a scratched strop?

Our cat want to town on one of my leather strops. It is scratched in several places, but not very deeply. Any tips on how to make it smoother?

No pictures it didn't happen!

I am assuming that it would be vertical scratches.

If not bad I would try rubbing them with a bottle. If worse I would sand very lightly and then rub.

I've used a pumice stone, lightly, on small scratches with some effect. As Tim says, less is more. Start with nothing (eg rub with your hand); if that doesn't work very well do the bottle thing, if that doesn't work then move up to a very very light abrasive like a pumice stone, a non-scratch dishwashing scourer, sand paper, etc.

Even just rubbing in some razor-friendly leather conditioner and working it with your hand over the next few days might be a good place to start if the scratches aren't deep.

And, of course, treat the source of the scratches and if possible stop it from recurring.

James.

Post some pics.

Depends on the direction and how deep the scratches are.

You can sand, but I have had good luck scraping with a wood card scraper. Take a sharp cabinet card scraper and lay flat on a counter and take a lite cut from top to bottom. Scraping will leave a flatter surface than spot sanding.

You can use a large sharp knife, (kitchen knife) or buy a cabinet scraper for about $5,

If the scratches run up and down, they will not matter much, those going across the strop can damage the edge. It the scratches are lite, re-hydrating may make them a non issue.

A cabinet scraper will leave a nice short nap finish, or just use the other side.

OK I'm trying very carefully at first, applying yellow paste (which is needed anyway) , rubbing with hands and the back of a razor. Bottle next. I will post pics if it doesn't improve.

You could always turn your cat into a strop...

Sorry I've started drinking

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

You could always turn your cat into a strop...

Sorry I've started drinking

you don't think the leather would be too thin?

traditionally they used cat hide on old style mountain banjos, must be a tough hide. Wouldn't make a very long strop though

If you have a rolling pin that might do the trick. The wood ones and marble ones work best, silicon not so much.

Neil Miller recommended using a large soup spoon to rub out strop injuries.