Thread: Felt Or Balsa For CrOx?

I use an SRD paddle strop with felt and CrOx to finish after honing and to touchup razors. I know many use balsa for the CrOx. Is there a reason balsa may be superior?

It's a matter of technique and preference.

Most compounds can be used on most strops (be they balsa, felt, leather, or cloth) the strop is simply a carrier for the compound. Some like different compositions or firmness, but it generally boils down to preference and what yields the greatest consistency.

I use leather glued to a board.

I have a feeling that chrom-ox is better on a surface with some give, like felt or leather. That is the only way I've ever used it. I have also used diamond paste on balsa and that does what it is supposed to do. I just never tried the C O on balsa 'cause it worked well enough on the felt.

Works fine for me. Cheap and easy to try. I imagine the balsa will achieve more of a true V shaped bevel and felt, leather or linen slightly more concave.

Yes the more give a surface has the more convex it will impart on the bevels. This is critical to remember while contemplating the pressure you use.

I have a growing level of experience with straights and a fairly broad level with other edged tools with finely polished edges. I'd suggest the equivalent polishes can be obtained with a given abrasive regardless of what it is applied to (leather, balsa or other hardwood).

Generally some will migrate away from balsa because it eventually gets mishandled and dented where leather is more forgiving in this regard (as are hardwoods such as oak).

Ideally, I prefer leather mounted on hardwood. But it's just a personal preference. The hanging strip is more "romantic" but requires an additional input (tension) from the user.

There are LOTS of ways to maintain an edge. I'd suggest the one that you enjoy most is the best

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I just never tried the C O on balsa 'cause it worked well enough on the felt.

That's funny Jimmy, I was thinking the same thing, except the other way around - it's worked well enough for me on balsa lol...

I think the appeal of balsa is that it is harder to duff an edge on a non-flexible surface compared to a hanging strop loaded with paste. And it works well too, I might add. Since I've never used felt myself I'll leave it to those more experienced than myself to comment on both

Originally Posted by unit

Yes the more give a surface has the more convex it will impart on the bevels. This is critical to remember while contemplating the pressure you use......

Generally some will migrate away from balsa because it eventually gets mishandled and dented where leather is more forgiving in this regard (as are hardwoods such as oak).

I'm curious as to why you would think this. With a balsa strop a user is using gentle spine-leading strokes, so I'm not sure why it would get dented or be otherwise mishandled?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

That's funny Jimmy, I was thinking the same thing, except the other way around - it's worked well enough for me on balsa lol...

I think the appeal of balsa is that it is harder to duff an edge on a non-flexible surface compared to a hanging strop loaded with paste. And it works well too, I might add. Since I've never used felt myself I'll leave it to those more experienced than myself to comment on both



I'm curious as to why you would think this. With a balsa strop a user is using gentle spine-leading strokes, so I'm not sure why it would get dented or be otherwise mishandled?

I'm speaking of mishandling when not in use as a strop. Balsa makes a great strop, but it requires a bit more care for storage because it is soft. In use, I think it is among the easiest to use perhaps because the light delicate feel seems to remind the user to be gentle

I have dinged many chunks of balsa when traveling. Perhaps some guys have nice cases for them? Perhaps I should look into this...but for the added cost I'd prefer leather hones (abrasive loaded leather stretched over hard wood or granite). YMMV

Originally Posted by unit

I'm speaking of mishandling when not in use as a strop. Balsa makes a great strop, but it requires a bit more care for storage because it is soft. In use, I think it is among the easiest to use perhaps because the light delicate feel seems to remind the user to be gentle

I have dinged many chunks of balsa when traveling. Perhaps some guys have nice cases for them? Perhaps I should look into this...but for the added cost I'd prefer leather hones (abrasive loaded leather stretched over hard wood or granite). YMMV

Fair enough. To be honest I'd never considered travelling with my balsa strop but you're right, it could get dinged up (and messy too!) without some form of protective case. It seems pretty safe at home though, at least at my house

Each medium that the Pastes are applied to impart a different level of effectiveness..


I can only tell you what the history has been on SRP with razors

With Straight Razors there was never any issue with harsh edges from pastes until people started using Balsa as a test medium, and that was what it was first used as..

Several years back people started saying if you just want to try a paste, try it on a piece of Balsa before you commit an expensive strop to it.. That changed to using it exclusively, to people getting harsh edges..

Please do not take my word for this just look back in the archives and read it for yourself the progression is easy to find.. Also the "Convex the edge" guys started adding to the fire which just really should not happen unless you just don't understand stropping a razor.. Again don't take my word for it go read the archives..

IME I personally like a Leather bench strop for pasted use or the Hard felt, but try it all and decide for yourself...