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Haven't tried it but it sounds plausible

I personally don't recommend anything that I haven't actually tried myself,, so Yes Ron, the Wood Ash does work :p

These are all simply "Back in the...

Alternatives can be tested on a simple Newspaper folded to resemble a strop

Try

Lead
Pencil Lead
Ash
Lamp Black
Metal Polish (Flitz, Maas, Simi-Chrome)
Dried Slurry from a good finisher...