Thread: Hones that are clay based v Resin based.

Originally Posted by bobski

You might be better informed from DaveW,I can only think of the obvious, mineral based cutting compounds, used by panel beaters, that polishes, but by it's name 'cuts' I have no idea of what grit it may be, but such a polish impregnated into a linen strop. This may be what it is, after all, after our say 10-12k all is polish, very little metal should abrade at such grit sizes, So DaveW, help us to get to the bottom of this one. Dave says it improves a chromium Oxide finish, which tells me it may have a bit more cut to it. What colour is the linen?

Regards Bob

The linen is white. I don't know how I missed this discussion and didn't respond sooner! Whatever is in the old linens is non-cutting, because if you use a razor long enough, the edge will eventually be burnished to a polish without leaving much of anything on the linen - even over a long period of time. That's specific to the linens that say "silk finish" on them. I'm sure that there were quite a few different types of finishes available on different linens, and some of them may have had some cutting power, but my favorite silk finish linens don't cut unless they get contaminated or get dust on them.

A couple of years ago, a friend tried to find what compound may have been on the linen, and he found two different patents, but I'm not sure I believe they were the same thing, I think they may have used the same name but been something different than what was on my strop. One of the ingredients in the compound he found was creosote.

Patent US2456263 - Razorstrop composition - Google Patents

There was plenty of al-ox and other abrasives available back then, including in small particles. It's my opinion that the lack of abrasive was intentional to save razors and avoid the chance that an abrasive could damage an edge.

The big kicker with the linen is that the improvement, to me, happens over time. It is an edge that is as sharp as chromium oxide, at least, but without the bite that chromium oxide has. It will still cause weepers if you have something sticking up on your face, but the edge completely lacks harshness. It brings a natural stone edge up to the same level, too, and keeps it there.

(Oni - i might not have found a compound that has lead in it, but creosote isn't good for anyone either!!)

Indeed creosote is not a real safe idea.
Here's the lead mixture:
Patent US753060 - Razor-strop dresser - Google Patents