Thread: CHALK ?.....

I was wondering if anyone has ever thought about this before......

When I received my hanging strop, they said that the linen side was
"pre-treated" with a chalk.

Indeed, when I first put the strop into use, a very small amount of white
substance was noticable on the linen side !

*QUESTION*.... Chalk ?......If I buy a box of blackboard chalk (the kind
school children use), and treat my linen with.....

Is that good or bad ?

Thanks.....Marko.

That would be strange! The linen is fine. The chalk is to help clean and dry the blade a little.

For strops without chalk I sometimes sprinkle a little fireash on them and rub it in.

I kinda doubt that white chalk powder would really hurt anything as long as it was in powdered.

Talc would be easier than grinding up blackboard chalk if you choose to go this route

I use whiting as an abrasive to make a very fine metal polish. You can buy whiting at a paint supply store. Whiting/chalk/calcium carbonate is pretty low on the Mohs scale. I do not think it would have much of an abrasive effect on hardened steel.

Charlie

Originally Posted by spazola

I use whiting as an abrasive to make a very fine metal polish. You can buy whiting at a paint supply store. Whiting/chalk/calcium carbonate is pretty low on the Mohs scale. I do not think it would have much of an abrasive effect on hardened steel.

Charlie

Calcium carbonate as in baking powder?

hmmm.....


John P.

I tried the school board chalk thing a couple of years ago. It does work but...it can leave abrasive grains that are to large at first. So..once you apply it be sure and go over the linen with a spare junker razor or kitchen knife to break up any large grains.

Climbing chalk or gymnasts chalk comes pre-ground or in block form and seems to be softer. It is really easy to work with and can likely be purchased at an outdoor or sporting goods store.

Thanks guys......I was just wondering about it.

Marko.....

I'm not a big advocate of applying gunk to the linen, but I do use fireash as i mentioned. I knew a guy a long time ago that put car polish on his linen.

Well, to be honest with you, I'm not really crazy about putting ANYTHING on my "everyday" strop.

There's so many opinions out there, that I'm just trying to listen to everyone, and maybe form my own idea of what might be the best.

I've got a little stick of that T-I strop paste, and was going to use it on the linen side of my everyday strop (If you've seen Lynn's video, he applies it VERY generously to the linen side of one of his strops), but
T-I recommends it for use on one side of their two-sided paddle (which I have also).

I guess I'm just like any "newbie" out there......wanting to try and experiment with any and all different combinations until I find that "Magical" one that works !

I know I have to do something, 'cause my razor shaves close enough....but Good Golly Miss Molly does it DRAG !

Marko.....