Hone vs Newspaper

Well I wasn't sure whether to put this in the hones or stropping forum so I'll not be offended should it get moved.

I have been using my lovely Essex No. 4 for a while now and its getting a little rough to shave with. I was going to send it to the hone (I was fortunate enough to be gifted an Escher :D) but I decided to run it over some newspaper instead. I haven't used it since but wanted to create this post as an experiment y'all can follow along with and even add to should you feel that way inclined.

I gave it a couples of minutes on the print (not sure how many laps as I wasn't counting but to guess I'd say between 120-150, maybe more). It seemed to go fairly average on a HHT better than before anyway.

I was attempting to see if it is a worthwhile exercise in increasing time between hones and therefore more metal and more life, although sharpening on a finisher isn't going to take away very much metal!

I'll post my results tomorrow morning after my shave.

Newspaper can really refresh an edge. I haven't done it in a while, but still have several colored comics sections and green full page ads saved. Now I want to revisit this technique.

What are you stropping on now to maintain your razor?

A newspaper strop is a quasi-pasted strop. News print itself is somewhat abrasive adding inks that may contain some abrasive clay can make a conventional pasted strop.

Is it enough to revive a flagging edge? Possibly, with enough laps.

So it could be done, but there are better alternatives in pasted strops that can produce more consistent results in shorter time.

Many years ago for a while, I stropped on The Financial Times, as it was a heavy bond paper with lots of ink, the results were ok, but I switched to paste and never returned to newsprint.

Chrome Oxide and Cerium are the most common and effective, but there are many more paste each with their following. Heck just a regular maintenance, stropping with leather can keep an edge shaving for a long time.

If newsprint works for you… go for it.

Hone wins everytime.

I can throw a hone through newspaper, but, try though I might, I cannot(even with water) through a newspaper through a hone.

:chapeau

Ahh… but Newspaper covers stone…. Ha!

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

Ahh… but Newspaper covers stone…. Ha!

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Figures. That's why the children laugh. :mad: And here I thought I had some cross-generational mojo.

A few days ago, I received a package from a man who i'm proud to call a friend; it contained 3 straight razors in very nice shape, a SRD strop to help me help others and misc shaving supplies for me to try.

He had emailed that the Duck and the Red Point were still 'shaving' but the little 1/2 'LADWIGS SPECIAL' (wasn't.)

I tried the duck last night after a quick stropping and OH YA! It's still shaving . But after reading this thread I wanted to 'play'/experiment.

SO! I Prepped and gave the 1/2 'LS' a try without stropping. Hmmmm No Go. Lots of pulling. So I then gave it 25 laps on my Neil Miller Linen and 50 Laps on SRD English Bridle as I would for daily shaving and then a small test shave. Not much better. So, I treated it like I'd just honed it and gave it 50 laps on my Illinois 827 and then 50 laps on the Neil Miller linen followed by 50 laps on the Illinois Russian and then 100 laps on the SRD English Bridle. Slightly better.

I then folded a piece of newspaper so that it would be 'about' 3" wide and laid it on my 3" SRD leather and gave the blade 100 laps followed by a Complete Shave.

I found a 'A NOTICABLE' improvement. IT WASN'T A 'GREAT SHAVE' but A MUCH BETTER SHAVE! :tu

This entire age old art is all about 'personal preference' if someone 'prefers' to use the newspaper instead of a pasted strop and it 'works for them' I say let them have at it and enjoy themselves :y

I hope this helps :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

What are you stropping on now to maintain your razor?

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Currently using a cheap but effective strop, has leather one side and linen on the other. I am devoid of any material like CrOX or diamond sprays or anything else.

I was hesitant to use the linen without any additives but do you recommend giving it a go? I am not too bother if it wrecks the edge I have to take it back to a lower grit stone as I was going to do that anyway... The blade has a small but noticeable knick in it.

I usually will run my blade over newspaper after I have it on the stones then I will strop on leather. I was just curious too see if I could keep it off the hones for a longer period of time. I does appear to be sharper but the shave test will reveal much more.

Was a very interest read too cudarunner.

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Originally Posted by andrewmurray86

Currently using a cheap but effective strop, has leather one side and linen on the other. I am devoid of any material like CrOX or diamond sprays or anything else.

I was hesitant to use the linen without any additives but do you recommend giving it a go? I am not too bother if it wrecks the edge I have to take it back to a lower grit stone as I was going to do that anyway... The blade has a small but noticeable knick in it.

I usually will run my blade over newspaper after I have it on the stones then I will strop on leather. I was just curious too see if I could keep it off the hones for a longer period of time. I does appear to be sharper but the shave test will reveal much more.

Was a very interest read too cudarunner.

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As I've posted many, many times, this age old art involves so much 'Personal Preference'!

So far the recipients of about 200+ razors honed by me have been Very Happy with the edge and those edges are Straight Off a King 1200 a Norton 4/8K and a Naniwa 12K.

While I'm seriously considering dwelling into the world of pasted strops I will do so very slowly.

I was raised to take pride in my work, no matter what it was and I do take a Lot of Pride in my honing and how others like the way they shave.

The Single Reason that I am considering using the pasted strops is to 'Fine Tune' an edge to an owner's taste.

As my very good friend pinklather says; "you like your edges 'crispy' I prefer them more on the 'smooth' side'.

Again another example of 'Personal Preference' :shrug:

Strop on newspaper is new for me...it's first time I ear this thing.
I think strop on news paper is usefull as substitute of leather strop (infact with it you can refresh a razor after 120 laps)
For refresh the edge of razor i think jeans or linen strop is better...after them you can use paper because smoother than jeans or linen

Be careful stropping a chipped edge on linen or leather. The chip can cut both.

Plain linen and leather can and have maintained many a razor for hundreds of years. They will not remove chips, nor will newspaper, that is what stones are for.

I have a secret. Go to Dan's whetstones and buy 4x6 surgical black arkansas stone. After you lap it properly it will have a mirror finish reflection. Puts a very fine edge on razors. Its so gentle a few laps every couple weeks will keep an indefinite fresh edge on the razor.