Thread: Newspaper as a finishing hone

As anyone ever tried using newspaper to finish off their honing process or to refresh a blade?

I too have wondered about the merits of stropping on plain newspaper. I do know that several members practice this method. What is the theory behind it? Does it work well?

Hey guys,

Just won this off ebay.

VINTAGE Quality Razor Hone - Clean & Ready To Use - (eBay.ca item 160297571336 end time 11-Nov-08 21:07:48 EST)

what do you think?

Stropping on newspaper is A+ in my book. I do it all the time. Not only plain newspaper, but newspaper rubbed with some chromium oxide powder.

I almost always finish my honing progression, regardless of underlying stones with some passes on newspaper or chrome ox'd newspaper prior to stropping on leather.

The inks used on newsprint have fine abrasive qualities. The paper itself can act as a strop for aligning an edge. Put both together and you've got an effective and free tool.

My method: I tape 2 ply newspaper (two sheets) down firmly to a flat surface (glass or a 12"x12" polished marble floor tile for about $4 at a home improvement store works well for this). I overlap the newspaper over one of the edges of the flat surface and tape the newspaper around and under that edge. Then, strop away. It's slow, but so what. You can't overhone on newspaper. I do 50 pass increments and test. I've done up to 700 passes on chrome ox'd newspaper in sets of 100 over one week's time with no negative effects to an edge.

Definitely try it.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Dups

Hey guys,

Just won this off ebay.

VINTAGE Quality Razor Hone - Clean & Ready To Use - (eBay.ca item 160297571336 end time 11-Nov-08 21:07:48 EST)

what do you think?

I think you've completely hijacked this thread.

Back to the newspaper stropping. I just wrap ~5 layers of newspaper loosely around a 1x4 board. I figure the board's flat enough given the degree of flex from the newspapers. Also, I prefer to allow a little flex in the paper to basically make it an even lighter than usual touch of the razor to the paper since the paper is allowed to flex away from the paper. Like Chris, I put a little Chrome Ox on the paper.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I think you've completely hijacked this thread.

Back to the newspaper stropping. I just wrap ~5 layers of newspaper loosely around a 1x4 board. I figure the board's flat enough given the degree of flex from the newspapers. Also, I prefer to allow a little flex in the paper to basically make it an even lighter than usual touch of the razor to the paper since the paper is allowed to flex away from the paper. Like Chris, I put a little Chrome Ox on the paper.

Thanks for the tip, Ron. I think I'm going to try it. Like you, I find adding a bit of cushion with more than one layer works best for me.

Chris L

I have done it paper only, and paper with chrome ox. It worked great on both counts! And it doesn't get any cheaper than newspaper.

so do you guys think newspaper with CrOx is more effective then a CrOx strop? i have a CrOx strop and was thinking of adding newspaper after it but before my linen strop. i guess the best way to check it out is to try it right. i have had good results with the CrOx strop though so maybe i'll try it both on newspaper and the old strop. wait, too many variables and i am still a noob

Originally Posted by chee16

so do you guys think newspaper with CrOx is more effective then a CrOx strop? i have a CrOx strop and was thinking of adding newspaper after it but before my linen strop. i guess the best way to check it out is to try it right. i have had good results with the CrOx strop though so maybe i'll try it both on newspaper and the old strop. wait, too many variables and i am still a noob

I would say they are equally effective. BUT: you can't really un-paste your strop afterwards, and you can just recycle the CrO paper when you are done. So it has that going for it.

this is my pasted strop that came with my puma ( i actually have two that are identical) so i'm not worried about ruining a strop. and it works pretty good. it's a little small but very comfy for stropping on the couch while watching TV or when i am reading the forums before bed. i have often though about getting a nice piece of latigo leather (horse tack shops have them cheap) and making a non-pasted version.