Thread: Nicking Horsehide

I have a TM latigo and a horsehide that are nicked up also. But only one nick was significant. Even though I am more worried about nicking it I have yet to nick of even scratch my Llama 70000. I have used my Llama about everyday since I have got (about six months) it and it is the bomb. The TM horsehide is a lot faster strop and that may have an effect on the tendency to nick it.

I also have an old vintage strop that I have never nicked, like the Llama. Both the Llama and the vintage ones are narrower than the TM which is 3". The vintage is a 1.5 inch skinny boy and the Llama is about 2.5". Perhaps its the narrower surface that tends not to get nicked.

I hope my new Hand American Chicago Special will be one that tends not to get nicked. But to be honest I haven't nicked a strop for many many months. The majority of nicks was earlier on in my straight shaving career. I am also going to mark it down to experience as well as speed with the TM horsehide.

Originally Posted by ZethLent

I The TM horsehide is a lot faster strop and that may have an effect on the tendency to nick it.

I think this is the issue. I did a baby nick again this morning, and it was at the end when I was going to fast and not paying attention. It's a killer strop - I love it. But it is so fast that if you don't pay attention you can get little nicks, which just add character in my opinion.

Interesting. I never nicked my vintage red imp but when I got my 2 1/2 horse latigo TM a couple of years ago I put small nicks in the horse but not the latigo. I was over at forum member TheTopher's house learning to hone and he watched me strop. He told me that I was turning my wrist and that was incorrect.

Not long after I read the 1961 barber manual excerpt in the SRP Wiki help files and they also advised against turning the wrist. I was also holding the tang with the thumb and nestling it in the first joint of the forefinger. All of my nicks were on the end of the strop closest to my pulling hand and on the side closest to my body. On the return stroke you could hear the blade slap the leather.

I read in the manual that I should be holding the tang between the tips of the forefinger and thumb to better control the light contact with the edge that is recommended. With great difficulty I changed my grip and stopped turning my wrist. This paid off and I don't nick strops anymore .... knocking on wood.

Jimmy,

I've tried the spin the shank in your fingers approach to stropping, but am unable to do it without some attendant turning of my wrist - not a bunch of wrist turn, but some. I haven't nicked a strop yet, even when I started in my teens, but probably always used the partial spin with turn. I just can't remember what it was like to be youthful.

Originally Posted by Bruce

I just can't remember what it was like to be youthful.

I know the feeling.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

This paid off and I don't nick strops anymore .... knocking on wood.

You so just jinxed yourself. I'm awaiting eagerly your follow up post "I can't believe I just nicked my strop!"

I play around with different grips. I find I have small muscle skill wrist joint issues (not arthritis, but I probably need to watch it on that front) so I have to try different things to avoid ergonomic pain. Some of my techniques really take pressure off the wrist but seem to expose me to minor risk of nicking - what the heck, the nicks are never bad, and I can't buy a new wrist [although if Tony starts making those, I'm first in line!].

Originally Posted by loueedacat

You so just jinxed yourself. I'm awaiting eagerly your follow up post "I can't believe I just nicked my strop!"

I'm a strop junkie. I bought the 2 1/2 TM because he was out of the 3" at the time and I didn't want to wait. When he had the 3" I bought that but didn't use it because I was afraid of nicking it. Recently I bought one of the high end Kanayama strops and I haven't used it yet for the same reason. Now I've got a HandAmerican Chicago Special coming. A fool and his money.....

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one nicking my new strop

However, I had a shave today where I took my Wapi to Tony's Linen, Latigo, then Horsehide and I've gotta say it was one of the smoothest shaves I've had to date. It's also a plus that I honed this razor up myself. It's only the second razor I've honed too!!

Originally Posted by doleeo

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one nicking my new strop

However, I had a shave today where I took my Wapi to Tony's Linen, Latigo, then Horsehide and I've gotta say it was one of the smoothest shaves I've had to date. It's also a plus that I honed this razor up myself. It's only the second razor I've honed too!!

A great feeling when you find you can hone a dull razor and get a smooth and close shave out of it. Super satisfying and addictive IME.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

A fool and his money.....

A fool who persists in his folly eventually becomes wise.

I'd be glad to take any of those strops for you to help relieve any anxiety. It's the least I can do for all the help you've given me and others on this forum