Thread: Why do so many newbies cut or nick their strop?

I am new to straight razor shaving, and actually haven't even purchased my first razor or my first strop. I keep reading about how all newbies will nick or cut there strop, and some people suggest getting a cheap strop because of this. I am just have a hard time thinking of how one would even cut a strop if your are stropping leading with the spine (which is how I understand you are supposed to do it). Unless as a newbie you tried to go super fast for some foolish reason, i just don't see how my blade would nick my strop since I wouldn't be leading with the blade.

Am I missing something? Any help would be appreciated since I will be getting y first straight and strop within the month. Thanks to everyone here, all extremely informative.

If you try to go too fast, the strop can be cut when you are at the ends of your stroke. That is where I have seen the most cuts and nicks. Either flipping the edge into the strop, changing directions before you've flipped, not starting the stroke before you contact with the edge, etc.

Well, there are the obvious answers, such as stropping too fast, flipping the blade while still in a stropping motion and just plain old lapse in concentration. It happens to everyone, not just newbies. I'm also convinced that strops get nicked because everyone tells you that you'll nick your strop.

When you strop fast and get out of sync it's very easy, after 1000's of laps you feel loss sync coming on and stop and re-start without damage

I am afraid the answer to your question will present itself once you get the products in hand. Just go slow and you'll keep it to a minimum.

FWIW I've never nicked my strop because I don't treat it like a race to 50k laps.

Originally Posted by str8fencer

I am afraid the answer to your question will present itself once you get the products in hand. Just go slow and you'll keep it to a minimum.

Exactly what I am thinking and I am not being smart about it either. It is difficult to explain the ways it can be done and get someone who has never tried it to understand it. Seems simple until you try it. If you have never nicked a strop with a straight razor through a long career I will bet you are so far outside the norm as to be exceptional, just plain lucky or both.

Bob

Think the most "newbys" want to go to fast.I remember from my early days. I held the razor to tightly and so its go wrong.to fast stropping in the begining had the result you nick your strop and most of the time you ruin your edge.
Relax and take your time to learn, the speed stropping is for later time.

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

FWIW I've never nicked my strop because I don't treat it like a race to 50k laps.

Let's not Jinx this

Sort of like newbie sex,overinthusiasm (sp)