Stopping On Balsa or Newsprint?

What's the deal with stropping on balsa wood and newspaper?


Is there a guide or explanation anywhere about when, why, and how to do this?


In reading through the forums, I've seen some references to stropping on balsa wood with a paste, and stropping on newspaper. I suppose eventually I might put these tidbits together and figure out what is being talked about, but I was hoping there would be a more thorough explanation in one place.


I don't have a straight razor yet. I expect to get one soon though.

I have some sharpening stones I use for knives and chisels; and I typically finish them on a kitchen steel; and then I strop them on the back of a McGuire Nicholas 2" wide saddle leather construction worker belt, which does double-duty holding up my work pants.

Balsa is actually a carry over from the Tool Sharpening arena

It was used here as a Test Bed for pastes and sprays before committing a Leather or Felt strop to that medium, somehow people started using them all the time they are even sold :shrug:
I myself find Balsa as a harsh mistress when stropping so I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy for continued use

Newsprint was even more of a fine abrasive in the old days but it still works in a pinch or to give a edge just a touch more Ummpff after the hones or paste

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

My friend Glen (GSSIXGUN) has given you some very good counsel!!! Listen to what the more seasoned ‘Veterans’ have to say! Please be wary of those that are fairly new. There are exceptions! Just choose wisely!

I’m as guilty as any other in that when I first started and finally discovered how to do something at least fairly well I would post to others of my ‘experience’ when in fact I knew very little at all!!

KNIVES:

As a former meat cutter, I will tell you flat out that the difference between sharpening a knife and honing a straight razor is as different as black and white!!!

There is an entirely different ‘touch’ and I had to learn different muscle memories!!!

When you do get a straight razor there are a few different routes to take:

1. Buy a new razor having the factory ‘shave ready’ edge and learn the hard way!

2. Buy a new razor from SRD knowing that it is indeed truly shave ready!

3. Buy a vintage razor from the classifieds from an established dealer that is truly shave ready!

My personal opinion on this is to go with option #3!

Here’s why:

One thing to remember is that before you pour a lot of money into shaving with a straight is that you have to have PATIENCE!!!

If you Do Not have Patience, then keep on shaving the way you have as this Art has more learning curves than you can imagine!

With that said, if you do have patience, you will quickly learn this Art that I Love!

If I didn’t Love the Art, I wouldn’t have taken the time to respond in detail to your post!

Also, if and or when you decide to take up this Art, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with trusted friends who will give you a vintage razor that is truly shave ready!!

Again Welcome!

Welcome, TomBrooklyn!

Ditto on all what cudarunner and gssixguns said. I thought I'd add that in my reading, knife sharpening hardware and razor sharpening hardware differs is significant ways.

Again, that's from reading up here. Make sure to read the stickies in the Beginners forum. The first shave one, the one on honing, both by the founder of the forum Lynn Abrams.