Why do I cut the Strop?

[gcappo]

Hello friends,

i'm a newbie and I attempted to strop my razor on a leather strop ( scotch shell) if anybody knows this brand...lol

I'm baffled, why do I sometimes it seems I get stuck on the strop and cut it ( U know what I mean,,,)

Any tips or suggestion in order to avoid that???

Thanks all of you guys!!

[aespo]

Sounds like you are turning the blade over before you are ending the initial pass on the strop..slow down..it is a marathon not a sprint.

[RARamirez]

Are you leading with the spine? Or the sharp part of the razor??

[Minnebrew]

A mentor here told me to avoid this don't lay the blade down right away. Start the strop motion then gently lay the blade down. Otherwise your blade will involuntarily nick the strop.

[gcappo]

Hello guys,

Thanks for the tip, yes I will definitely slow down.

Silly question now: is my strop still usable even if i nick it?

Also another silly one ... How would I know or test the razor if I stropped it properly?

Thank you to all of you for the tips and patience!!

[ace]

The edge should not contact the strop until the direction of motion has already changed. That is, the spine stays on the strop while the blade is turned onto the opposite side, but that action doesn't complete until the blade is moving in the direction of the spine, not the edge. At first it should all be done slowly until one becomes competent at it. Speed will come eventually, but precision should be established first.

[aespo]

Using a nicked strop depends on where the Nick is and how bad it is..sometimes they can be sanded down or glued and sanded..depends on how bad it is.
And to test...you got to shave with it man.only true way to see if it is ready...nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool.
Hope it helps
Anthony

[gcappo]

Hello all,

the nicks seems very superficial on the strop.

Therefore still usable? Maybe I'm not cut for the straight razor stuff,,,

[aespo]

Don't get so down on it...it is not easy and even guys doing it all there lives still learn something new. Slow and steady. Don't give up and be patient. Focus on the technique first and then the speed will come.
Lay the strop on the table if you have to and go slow from there...heck practice on a belt with a butter knife..
It gets better.

[gcappo]

Ok guys I will try again

My concern is if I can still use my strop even if with some superficial nicks?

Thanks all of you!!