Black powder on strop?

jKyro · Aug 9, 2015

Hey gents, I have a question about my strop. I have a three inch black SRD strop with the white upgraded linen (can't remember the name) and recently it's been giving off a black powdery substance on my razors. I do restorations but I'm careful to get the swarf off the blade before stropping. It's been treated with Fromm 364 strop dressing and recently reapplied after wiping it down with a damp cloth to remove some of the black. However in still getting this powder.

Is is this because I'm wearing the strop out? I don't feel like I'm applying too much pressure and I've had a fellow honer check my technique and say it's pretty good so I'm just curious what it could be. Anyone have any suggestions? I look at my razors under a 100x loupe and it's not adding any funny gritty scratch patterns or anything, but at $90 I don't want to destroy this thing.

drifter · Aug 9, 2015

I'm guessing that you have the Black Latigo?

jKyro · Aug 9, 2015

I believe so. 3in black with d rings on the bottom with a white soft linen. SRD brand

drifter · Aug 10, 2015

Mine does the same thing. It leaves behind a black film on the spine of my razors after stropping. No biggie, I just wipe it off afterwards.

bluesman 7 · Aug 10, 2015

If it were mine, I would wipe it every day after use with a damp cloth followed by a vigorous rub with a dry cloth until that behavior stopped. But that is only if it were mine YMMV.

drifter · Aug 10, 2015

bluesman 7 said:
If it were mine, I would wipe it every day after use with a damp cloth followed by a vigorous rub with a dry cloth until that behavior stopped. But that is only if it were mine YMMV.

I'll try that.

Jayber Crow · Aug 10, 2015

From the thread title I thought you were using FFFF Goex as an abrasive. :001_smile

jKyro · Aug 10, 2015

Haha. Yea I guess it looks like that. I hear carbon graphite works well too

aephilli · Aug 11, 2015

Jayber Crow said:
From the thread title I thought you were using FFFF Goex as an abrasive.

So, how does it work?

(don't try to act like you haven't tried it...)

Jayber Crow · Aug 11, 2015

aephilli said:
So, how does it work?

(don't try to act like you haven't tried it...)

Never tried it. Just make sure you don't create a spark if you do.

jKyro · Aug 11, 2015

Ever smelled burning flesh? It's a lot like that outcome

aephilli · Aug 13, 2015

Gotta use a lot of water to wash it, that stuff is corrosive... lol

hey, if folks used to use lead on strops........

aephilli · Aug 13, 2015

maybe smokless would be cleaner? should I use IMR or ball????

life2short1971 · Aug 17, 2015

I love the smell of Napalm in the morning....

aephilli · Aug 17, 2015

EL Alamein · Aug 17, 2015

Your experience is entirely normal judging by my own. Don't worry about, it will not harm your blade. Just wipe it off if it bothers you.

My very first strop as a teenager was a "Medal of Award" strop that I bought from the local Barber and Beauty supply in the early 1980's (President Reagan was in his first term). The leather side deposited a slight residue on my blade until the mid 1990's (President Clinton was in his second term) before it stopped doing so. I judge that the residue never had an adverse affect on my blade. The reason being that when it stopped depositing the residue the draw on the strop seemed to go away and get glassy and the blade seemed to need honing more frequently (if I remember correctly).

In short, it seems that what you're experiencing is natural and an effect from the leather tanning/preparation treatment. It's nothing to be worried about.

Chris

life2short1971 · Aug 17, 2015

aephilli said:

One of my favorite movies of all time.

Sploosh · Sep 10, 2015

EL Alamein said:
Your experience is entirely normal judging by my own. Don't worry about, it will not harm your blade. Just wipe it off if it bothers you.

My very first strop as a teenager was a "Medal of Award" strop that I bought from the local Barber and Beauty supply in the early 1980's (President Reagan was in his first term). The leather side deposited a slight residue on my blade until the mid 1990's (President Clinton was in his second term) before it stopped doing so. I judge that the residue never had an adverse affect on my blade. The reason being that when it stopped depositing the residue the draw on the strop seemed to go away and get glassy and the blade seemed to need honing more frequently (if I remember correctly).

In short, it seems that what you're experiencing is natural and an effect from the leather tanning/use preparation treatment. It's nothing to be worried about.

Chris

Thanks for this post, Chris!
I too have the same issue with
a 3" strop from Maggards.
Good to know this appears
to be normal.

Search

Black powder on strop?

jKyro

drifter

jKyro

drifter

bluesman 7

drifter

Jayber Crow

jKyro

aephilli

Jayber Crow

jKyro

aephilli

aephilli

life2short1971

aephilli

EL Alamein

life2short1971

Sploosh

Similar threads