Thread: Things to strop with in a pinch...

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

I just keep folding it until i have a long 3 inch wide strip, and then fold it once long ways.
lay it on a very flat hard surface to strop...

Mike, do you have any ballpark guess as to what "grit" newspaper is? Would it be comparable to any particular paste on a paddle?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I sometimes use my wallet when traveling. ...

With all honing/stropping, I've found that flatness is the big key.

Ah, well then my wallet will do just fine!

I also strop on newspaper 2 to 6 layers thick on something flat. I often strop on my palm when shaving (removing the lather/stubble from the razor).

I've heard that newspaper ink is around 0.1 micron or so. Don't quote me.

I have tried using newspaper just like Mike, but I've seen an improvement after putting just a few small dabs of MaaS on first, work it in and let dry. I would not want to do this on a strop because of the other chemicals involved, but a newspaper ends up in the trash or recycled so it's all good. The good thing is that stuff is already hanging around at home if you buy razors off the bay

This is the first time I have heard of using a newspaper for stropping. I tried it and it's very effective.

Ok, what the heck...I just got my first razor but I can't get a Tony Miller apprentice strop for at least another week...I'm going to give the newspaper a go so I can try just one shave. I know I shouldn't, but having a razor and not being able to use it is torture.

Was the razor honed by a reputable honemeister?

If not, neither newspaper nor a strop will make it shave worthy. Those items just maintain an edge that is already in place.

It is winging its way across the country to a honemeister now. I did strop it on newspaper and I shaved with it twice (stropping in between as well). Both shaves were very good (see my post in the Newbie forum for details), but the blade felt a bit grabbier than I would like, so I thought it best to establish a sharpness baseline from an expert just to calibrate my expectations.

Hopefully by the time I get the blade back, Mr. Miller's apprentice strops will be back in stock and I can maintain that edge on the real deal.

Originally Posted by Estroncio

Palm hand is not flat but it works very Well. An old barber taught me do it. Formerly many barbers used the palm of his hand. They also used very poor people who do not have money for a strop.

Greetings

Dioni

I'm not sure how well those poor people would work, it seems like they'd be all bony and wouldn't give a very flat surface to strop on. Also they might not hold still.