Thread: Why use a fabric side on a strop?

I've been attempting to sharpen my two sacrificial razors while waiting for my professionally honed razor to arrive. I just can't seem to get to the point of a comfortable shave so I went back to the barbers supply store where I purchased my strop to get some CrO or other dressing. The owner doesn't carry CrO and claimed I didn't need it. He told me to use the linen. He claims to only use a carbundum hone (naturals are too slow), linen and leather. He then tried to sell me his sharpening tutoral on CD. I declined saying videos are available online. He went on to rag about the guy stropping his razor in the bathroom (you tube) saying I'd never get my razor sharp doing it that way. Perhaps I should have had him sharpen one of my razors on the condition I could watch but by this point I didn't have too much faith in him. Is it possible to produce a fine edge off a corbundum hone and finished with only linen and leather?

Originally Posted by Bladerunner

Chalk. Try it.

SHHHHHHHH That's a secret

Originally Posted by beenpickin

Is it possible to produce a fine edge off a corbundum hone and finished with only linen and leather?

Anything is possible, I just don't have that kind of time on my hands

Originally Posted by gssixgun

SHHHHHHHH That's a secret

Mumms the word

Originally Posted by beenpickin

I've been attempting to sharpen my two sacrificial razors while waiting for my professionally honed razor to arrive. I just can't seem to get to the point of a comfortable shave so I went back to the barbers supply store where I purchased my strop to get some CrO or other dressing. The owner doesn't carry CrO and claimed I didn't need it. He told me to use the linen. He claims to only use a carbundum hone (naturals are too slow), linen and leather. He then tried to sell me his sharpening tutoral on CD. I declined saying videos are available online. He went on to rag about the guy stropping his razor in the bathroom (you tube) saying I'd never get my razor sharp doing it that way. Perhaps I should have had him sharpen one of my razors on the condition I could watch but by this point I didn't have too much faith in him. Is it possible to produce a fine edge off a corbundum hone and finished with only linen and leather?

I suspect that he has facial skin of iron.

Greetings,

quick question:

When using the leather and the canvas strops, which should I use first and which should I use last?

Cheers,

Griz

The linen or canvas should be used first. Finish on leather to burnish the edge.

Canvas is more abrasive than linen. Most prefer using linen for everyday stropping.

I usually use canvas after honing to refine the edge, then linen followed by leather.

Thanks!

After reading further, it seems as if there are different kinds of abrasive pastes that some folks use with the canvas strops. Options galore.

Cheers,

Griz

Originally Posted by gssixgun

SHHHHHHHH That's a secret

Not any more.

Originally Posted by mrtgrizzly

Thanks!

After reading further, it seems as if there are different kinds of abrasive pastes that some folks use with the canvas strops. Options galore.

Cheers,

Griz

There is but these are usually to refresh a lagging edge not for daily use