Thread: A scratch each pass on the strop?

I'm not using much pressure, but a little scratch appears under the same spot on one side of my blade when I strop. So...., i got the waterstones out and I'm doing my first honing. (i've watched Lynn's DVD). This is hard, because I think I'm doing it right but dont know for sure. I'm not generally fluent in knife sharpening, so this is a new venture

Sounds like you got a piece of sand or something on your strop. Be sure to give it a good cleaning, and if it continues, get a new strop.

I'd bet you've got a divot in your blade. If you have magnification of some sort check out the edge.

Cant see anything on the blade but it may be small. After mild honing (1:3, 1:5 with 4000/8000, and 10 with 12,000), i still see a little scratch on the strop coming from the same place on my blade tho it seems smaller (the opposite pass tends to buff the scratch right out so its subtle). I will probably try shaving with it tonight. I hate the fact that tiny little things that i cant see or control can screw up my shave! Almost enough to make me stick to DE safety. Boohoo.

I'd do another 10 passes, progressively lighter, on the 12k. You sound like you're very nearly there.

Cool! Thanks!

Same thing happened to me a few months ago.

I hadn't even noticed that I had nicked my blade on the faucet until I had a CLOSE look at 30x. There was the slightest little hook right on the edge of my blade.

I hone with a coticule and it took about 30 mins to hone out....then it took another 2 days to figure out how to make the blade sharp enough to shave with again.

Now I pay really close attention to that faucet!

Take a look at the blade with some magnification, I bet you'll find the culprit.

Originally Posted by jkeane22

Cant see anything on the blade but it may be small.

There might be a burr on the razor's spine.

Does your blade have any etching on it?

Carl.

Not that I can see. I'm getting one of those 30x loupes. I've watched stropping and honing videos but i think i need hands on teaching