Strop Edges

[Leatherstockings]

Hi. I have some minor damage to my strop from a rough razor spine. The rough edge was on the spine near the stabilizers and scraped the strop. As depicted in the photo you can see where the color on the edge has been scrapped away near the bottom right. A similar spot is in the top of the strip opposite side. During stripping these spots feel a little rough, but that has improved incrementally with palm rubbing before stripping. What can I do to smooth these spots?

 

[Bogie]

You can refresh the strop with sanding with the appropriate grit. No more than absolutely necessary. Spots especially grease type spots are difficult to remove. However, I'm using the same horsehide strop for two decades. I sanded the blemishes away and use a bit of mineral oil now and then to keep it supple.

 

[Bakunin17]

Straight Razor Strop Tutorial: How to Restore a Vintage Strop (youtube.com)

This is a good strop restore. He uses emory board to hit those sides and really shows how to sand the strop. I followed this vid to restore some strops I had.

 

[drmoss_ca]

I must get around to doing this for my Kanayama; the cordovan leather with the shiny finish is "sticky" in the sense that any flip of the razor if it has come to a stop with catch on the strop and make a nick. I did it once before and used some high quality shoe leather products (Safir Renovateur and Safir neutral polish) to return the glossy shine. I expect experience with spit shining boots is useful here! Another option instead of sandpaper is to use a flat pumice stone (the kind used for calluses on feet) as it is a bit less prone to leave bits of grit on the strop. You must feel carefully for these whatever you use and make sure you brush them off: leaving them embedded in the finishing products can ruin an edge.

 

[Leatherstockings]

Straight Razor Strop Tutorial: How to Restore a Vintage Strop (youtube.com)

This is a good strop restore. He uses emory board to hit those sides and really shows how to sand the strop. I followed this vid to restore some strops I had.

That’s an informative video. Do you have a method that replicates the buffers he used? I don’t have any old shoe shining machines laying around.

 

[Bakunin17]

That’s an informative video. Do you have a method that replicates the buffers he used? I don’t have any old shoe shining machines laying around.

I would think offhand putting on an old pair of jeans, sitting down and running the strop back and forth over your thigh would replicate the buffing machine. I used a horse hair shoe brush and then I used saddle soap to clean the strop and then neatsfoot oil as the leather conditioner. What I had on hand. lol