Thread: Well I cut my new strop !

I put a cut near the bottom ( near the "D" ring) of my strop. The cut is in the center about 1/2" across. Will this affect the blade if I strop over this area when stroping?

Welcome to the club. I'm been doing some reading recently on nick repair as I'm on strop number 2 and don't feel like going to number 3 yet.

As to your question, I'm sorry I can't answer that.

What I can share however is just buying replacement leather from a vendor is a much cheaper soloution then purchasing a new strop.

In the past I've sliced two different strops in multiple places. Some more nicks than cuts and a couple where really cut! Ouch - once nearly all the way through on one of the strop edges. In all cases I was able to fix them. The cleaner/bigger cuts were a bit easier to repair than the small nicks. I used contact cement. Open the cut up or flap it back or what have you. Carefully put contact cement on both surfaces of cut with toothpick or some such thing and let dry about 5 minutes or so. Firmly press cut back together. You can then use the strop with no ill effects to your razors. If a bunch of small nicks that actually removed bits of leather (nothing to glue back) then I've actually taken sand paper and sanded down the nicks starting with about a 200 grit and going down to about 600 grit. Apply a little neats foot oil or other leather conditioner and strop is like new. BTW, as noted you can opt to just replace the leather and it is much less expensive than a whole new strop.

+1, on the fix LouG said IME. After awhile strop nicks or cuts will be few to none. Hang in there, we've all done it and will probably do it again.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Hang in there, we've all done it and will probably do it again.

Speak for yourself!

I have to agee with the others, if you can, glue the flap down and make sure its smooth and let that be a lesson to ya!

I am two months in and haven't nicked or cut my strop in about a month (knock on wood). I put about three nicks and a bad cut in mine during the first month. After reading several of the threads here I used rubber cement to repair the cut and a whet stone (for knives) to smooth out the nicks.

I have not had a problem with the smoothed nicks and repaired cut hurting my blade. I am that I can go six months without hurting my strop and then maybe I will by the SRD paddle strop for travel and paste.

+1, on the fix LouG posted. I spent my weekend sanding two deep cuts on a strop. Lessons learned to be sure. Take your time practicing with a strop. The best advice I got from this site was to practice with a butter knife. That way I wont hurt either myself or, better yet, the strop.

Thanks for the replies guys, no this cut is not very deep, I am going to try some neatsfoot oil and a lot of rubbing. Thanks again.

That sucks! I hope I don't cut my new strop, it's in the mail on its way. How do people usually cut them? Just rolling it on the edge instead of the spine?

I devoured 3 while learning - make that 4. Bought my own leather & hacked that up also. 'Switched from latigo to horse hide - like it better. 'Haven't eaten a good strop in months, but for quite a while, I thought the destruction would never stop.

Hang in there. It will get better.