Strop Disaster!

[JPM]

So I've been improving my stropping for a month or so and felt like I was doing pretty well. I've still been using my original strop and waiting to break in the Tony Miller. The last couple times I wanted to use the TM, but something told me not to. I've only put one or two tiny nicks in my other strop all this time.

Well the other day I decided to use the second razor I purchased which I had not stropped yet. I shaved with it and had pretty good results. Then I went and stropped it the way I normally do. Well, I didn't notice it until I had made about 3 strokes, but on the very edge of the strop at the heel of the blade every time I lapped towards my self the blade was putting a scratch in the leather! Turns out there was a tiny burr on the very end of the heel. I guess I should just be glad the scratches aren't on my TM, or my face!

The scratches aren't too bad, I suppose a little fine sand paper can smooth them. Do I need to treat the leather with anything after sanding?

 

[Leche]

Been there done that. I didn't worry about, can't even see it anymore. Minor.

 

[Sullybob]

I have done much worse then that. I put Neatsfoot oil on my strop. Can you feel the scratches when you are stropping?

 

[JPM]

I have done much worse then that. I put Neatsfoot oil on my strop. Can you feel the scratches when you are stropping?

Not when I'm stropping. But when I run my finger over the scratches some of the leather feels raised. I have to fine some fine sandpaper and try to smooth it out. It is on the very edge, so I guess it should be ok. Just kind of sucks since I hadn't nicked it up much while I was learning.

 

[azmark]

Just use your hands and rub over the nicks. It buffed them down and it actually gave my TM a nice look to it.

 

[leighton]

Just live with it. Live and learn. It won't affect efficacy.

 

[JPM]

Just live with it. Live and learn. It won't affect efficacy.

Sounds good, thanks.

 

[Luc]

Sandpaper will do a miracle on the leather, do it with a light touch!

 

[danjared]

I saw the title for this thread and was afraid you had sliced your strop in half!

 

[JPM]

I saw the title for this thread and was afraid you had sliced your strop in half!

Not quite that bad, but when I first saw the scratches you would of thought I cut it in half.

 

[leighton]

I saw the title for this thread and was afraid you had sliced your strop in half!

I've done it. Not fun.

 

[danjared]

I hear that Tony Miller bans you for one year if you do this to one of his.

 

[English]

I had an old vintage strop that was beat up and very dry.

I eventually took my orbital sander to it. I started with 400 grit and then 1000 grit. Nothing heavy but I sanded out the surface and sanded it flat.

I then dusted it off and lightly oiled it with a good leather oil.
Actually, I put too much oil and the draw on the strop was too heavy and so I wiped off the excess with tissue paper and then I wiped the surface with a bit of tissue paper that I had dampened with white spirit. I then let it dry. Bingo, a great strop. Totally refreshed, clean and ready to be nicked again.

It takes a little time before the surface becomes as smooth a silk again but it does after a few weeks stropping and you wouldn't know it from a new strop.

I thought it was ready for the dust bin, but no, it came as a suprise to me, you can actually sand the surface smooth again.

 

[sffone]

Sadly, just yesterday I took a fairly significant chunk out of my strop and it was my newest and best strop. And I've been using a strop for quite some time, certainly long enough to where that should not have happened, but I temporarily let my mind wander and lost the rhythm of my stroking. It's kinda like years ago when I sawed off my little finger while ripping a bunch of lumber -- when you get into a familiar routine it's just so easy to let your mind wander.

 

[JPM]

Sadly, just yesterday I took a fairly significant chunk out of my strop and it was my newest and best strop. And I've been using a strop for quite some time, certainly long enough to where that should not have happened, but I temporarily let my mind wander and lost the rhythm of my stroking. It's kinda like years ago when I sawed off my little finger while ripping a bunch of lumber -- when you get into a familiar routine it's just so easy to let your mind wander.

Ok, now I don't feel so bad about my strop after hearing about your finger. Yikes!

 

[Tony Miller]

I hear that Tony Miller bans you for one year if you do this to one of his.

No strops for you.................one year


Tony

 

[JPM]

No strops for you.................one year


Tony

Ouch!! Come on, I'm looking at the horse hide and linen. I promise I'll be gentle.

 

[danjared]

No strops for you.................one year


Tony

By the way, I just checked your store. Are the vegan strops no more or just not at the moment? :-/

 

[Tony Miller]

By the way, I just checked your store. Are the vegan strops no more or just not at the moment? :-/

I still make the Vegan, just have not been listing more than one or two models at a time. I am cutting back this year to more hobby, less business. This is not my real career, just a sideline.

Contact me directly about any other styles and I can give you a status.

Thanks,
Tony