Thread: not nicking the strop

Is it just me or are there other people out there that have never nicked there strop. Jerry sell gave me a like new strop for free since i started out so young at 14. I have never nicked the strop once. it looks just like it did when i got it. I am by no means tryign to bragg but is that normal because all the post i read about people wanted to fix there beginners strop that they have kniced all up has me wonderng if I am just over cautious with my strop. Or if it is normal for there to be some beginners that have not knicked there strops.

Good job! I too have no nicks in any of mine.
I started with a paddle strop developed correct muscle memory going slow then switched to a hanging strop.
Of course you know that the next time we strop we could end up with cuts.

A big part of it is staying focused on what you are doing.
If you let your mind wander then you are more likely to make a mistake.



Silver2

I've been using a straight for about 8 years. I have several old strops and have never nicked any of them once. I'm honestly surprised at how common most people describe strop nicking to be.

I've also never nicked a strop. I, like Utopian, have always been amazed by how many people do severely, and how many strops look like confetti when a newbie is done with them.

My starter strop, ruprazor filly has one nick.

My Illinois Russian has zero after 2 months, knock on wood!!!

.

My very first strop that i got two weeks ago has one nick on it and also, don't know if these are considered nicks but I have lines, very faint, from where I turn the razor and the edge hits the leather anyone have these?

Originally Posted by gimpyalex

My very first strop that i got two weeks ago has one nick on it and also, don't know if these are considered nicks but I have lines, very faint, from where I turn the razor and the edge hits the leather anyone have these?

Probably haven't fully changed direction before landing the edge.

I agree anyone who has done their research & goes about stropping carefully & methodically should cause no damage. ... However that certainly wasn't me when I first started

I nicked the crap out of my strop for at least the first month.

I started with a 2" latigo and while trying to teach my clumsy hands to adjust for the x-pattern I would often set the edge down just a tiny bit too early. I've sanded them down, and have not imposed further punishment on my strop for a few months now, but I am still very careful!

I'm thinking that the edges on our razors are a lot tougher than they are given credit for. If the razor is being turned on the strop with the edge buried in leather, leading to what some refer to a nicking, and after several episodes of that same stropping technique can still give a good shave, razors are tough indeed.

But I wouldn't know as I'm not a member in good stropping of the Nick-It Society.

Kick the Nick,

I chopped up two strops but that was way before SRP made the scene. They hang on my work bench and are used for other tools. One little bite on my new buffalo strop. Some silicone sealant and it's as good as new. Sometimes you just get out of the rhythm and that’s when it happens.

Mike