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

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

I've used newspaper on numerous occasions, it's very slightly abrasive, and can even refine a blade when you don't have that pasted strop handy... (It takes a lot of passes to refine an edge though)

I would try newspaper before experimenting with belts or bags...

Do you roll up the newspaper and flatten it out? How is this done?

Thanks for the replies, guys. I doubt I'll actually have the courage to try this. If I'm traveling, I'll most likely just take my DE instead. Although, I would be willing to do the newspaper thing if I needed to.

I sometimes use my wallet when traveling. With newspaper I just lay a few sheets flat on the countertop and lightly hone/strop the edge. I usually strop on the meaty part of my palm if I do this though.

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

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I usually strop on the meaty part of my palm if I do this though.

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

This is exactly what I do, a sort of exaggerated x-pattern on the meaty part of my palm. I tend to do it between different pasted surfaces, to avoid cross-contamination.

Incidentally, the meaty part of the palm isn't so flat, right?

Originally Posted by dylandog

This is exactly what I do, a sort of exaggerated x-pattern on the meaty part of my palm. I tend to do it between different pasted surfaces, to avoid cross-contamination.

Incidentally, the meaty part of the palm isn't so flat, right?

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

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.

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.