Thread: White paste for canvas

OK, so every once in a while I hold forth on the benefits of the white paste for your canvas strop.

But this time, instead of just the usual hot air from me, I'll throw out a couple of pictures as well, since we all like pics of shaving apparatus here!


OK, so--first the obligatory hot air! Many folks wonder about the effectiveness of canvas/linen stropping. I did myself when I first got my TM Artisan. But, I like to strop, so I always used the naked canvas anyhow, even though I could not tell if it was having any effect or not.

I then came across an article on Classic Shaving's website that dealt with strops:How-To and Why -

Canvas Strop



The Canvas or Linen Strop is generally used before final stropping on the leather strop. It's purpose is to provide a very honing to the razor's edge, replacing most of the keenness which was lost in it's last use. While it has proven effective for this purpose, it will not sharpen a dull razor but will extend the period between honings.

This strop is composed of high quality linen or silk woven into a fine or coarse texture.



A fine-textured linen strop is most desirable for putting a lasting edge on a razor. To obtain the best results, a new canvas strop should be thoroughly broken in. A daily hand finish will keep its surface smooth and ready for stropping. For a hand finish, the canvas strop is given the following treatment:

• Attach the swivel end of the strop to a fixed point, such as a nail.
  
• Lay the strop flat on a smooth and level surface and hold the unsecured end firmly.
• Rub a bar of dry soap over the strop, working it well into the grain of the canvas.
• Rub a smooth glass bottle over strop several times, each time forcing the soap into the grain and also removing excess soap.

Many modern Linen strops often come from the manufacturer pre-treated with a very fine chalk-based abrasive. These strops are generally quite stiff when new and do not require any break-in though their performance does improve with use. Over time the chalk abrasive may be worn away. It can be replaced with Linen Strop Paste, which is itself chalk-based and usually is either white or gray in color.

Thus, one dark and stormy night I order up a tube of the mysterious Dovo White. I spread it out all over my lovely TM smooth canvas strop......the first thing I notice is that it filled in all of the weave on the canvas. Hmmm, interesting indeed.

Next thing I notice is that stropping on the white pasted strop quite noticibly improves the razor keeness. Not a placeebo effect, but really sharpens it up. It's not as aggressive as ChromOx, but definitely has a mild abrasive quality to it.

In summary: I use my pasted cavas daily on the razor I'm about to shave with. Followed up by some latigo fandango, and I'm styling into another shave!


Oh, almost forgot the pics!

Pic #1 is the backside of the canvas strop tyo give an idea of the starting condition.

Pic #2 shows the white pasted canvas strop. Shiny and smooth!

Thanks very much for the pics and info!

It confirms something I've found as well, namely that chalk paste on canvas does the edge some good!

I bought a DOVO Blackstar a while back and a strop from Trumpers and the canvas side came ready pasted with the white stuff. Being just that tiny bit abrasive, it does seem to really help get a good final edge before I shave.

To be honest I've been so impressed with this paste type that when I get my next strop (I've been reading good things about the 3" SRD Red Latigo, and they are very pretty!) I`m going to white paste the canvas side on it if it doesnt come already pasted as standard. It really does work!

Thanks again for the information!

So..the white powder is just chalk dust mixed with something to make it easier to apply?

Is this correct?

Based on your relentless prodding and cajoling ( ) I pasted my linen as well. I've found that I had to adjust my stropping a bit because I was getting a harsher edge off of it. Did you find the same? Have you changed your pattern/lap number/pressure because of the paste? Or am I just crazy?

Originally Posted by JimR

Based on your relentless prodding and cajoling ( ) I pasted my linen as well. I've found that I had to adjust my stropping a bit because I was getting a harsher edge off of it. Did you find the same? Have you changed your pattern/lap number/pressure because of the paste? Or am I just crazy?

You are crazy.


I have found that I actually get a nice, mild edge off of the pasted canvas. If a razor is feeling a bit harsh after honing I give it some PCS (pasted canvas stropping) treatment and it seems to mellow it out a bit. That's why I'm always prodding and cajoling, as I find this to give an excellent, comfy edge.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

You are crazy.


I have found that I actually get a nice, mild edge off of the pasted canvas. If a razor is feeling a bit harsh after honing I give it some PCS (pasted canvas stropping) treatment and it seems to mellow it out a bit. That's why I'm always prodding and cajoling, as I find this to give an excellent, comfy edge.

Hmm...I must be doing something wrong...Well, I've been meaning to focus more on stropping technique, so I guess this is the time!

Originally Posted by JimR

Hmm...I must be doing something wrong...Well, I've been meaning to focus more on stropping technique, so I guess this is the time!

BTW, what soap are WE buying next?

Originally Posted by Seraphim

BTW, what soap are WE buying next?

Now that IS the question. I was thinking of Durance L'Ome...Or perhaps Pre de Provence? As far as French soaps go, I've only ever tried Institut Karite (and it burned me badly) so I'm curious about the Savon du France.

I'm also checking out some small makers. I found one that makes a LARD based shaving soap!!!

Originally Posted by JimR

Now that IS the question. I was thinking of Durance L'Ome...Or perhaps Pre de Provence? As far as French soaps go, I've only ever tried Institut Karite (and it burned me badly) so I'm curious about the Savon du France.

I'm also checking out some small makers. I found one that makes a LARD based shaving soap!!!

I have a confession, Jim--I already ordered my next soap...

You see, I got this cool old-school English scuttle from Ebay a coupledays back:


But the soap holder part is rather small, not designed to fit a "standard" sized soap puck.

So after wracking my brain for all of about 30seconds I knew just what to do:


The reason is twofold:
#1 I would imagine the 25g puck size may fit the scuttle well.
#2 The Lavender scent of the C&S Oxford & Cambridge goes well with the floral design on the scuttle

#3- I'm on a soap buying binge lately, and just had to have it! (OK, that's more than twofold, but there's no reasoning with SSAD!)


I'm hijacking my own thread! SSAD has me in its' cruel clutches!!!!

You're matching the scent of the soap to the design of the scuttle?

You are on an entirely different plane of existence!

Well, I hope the C&S is ok. I'm actually thinking of saving my pennies for the Le Grelot when Martin comes back from vacation...

Yeah, this hijack is totally complete.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I have a confession, Jim--I already ordered my next soap...

You see, I got this cool old-school English scuttle from Ebay a coupledays back:


But the soap holder part is rather small, not designed to fit a "standard" sized soap puck.

So after wracking my brain for all of about 30seconds I knew just what to do:


The reason is twofold:
#1 I would imagine the 25g puck size may fit the scuttle well.
#2 The Lavender scent of the C&S Oxford & Cambridge goes well with the floral design on the scuttle

#3- I'm on a soap buying binge lately, and just had to have it! (OK, that's more than twofold, but there's no reasoning with SSAD!)


I'm hijacking my own thread! SSAD has me in its' cruel clutches!!!!