Thread: Balsa paddle strop

Absolutely new to Straight razors,but i purchased a vintage razor and have had my first shave(it came shave ready)and only a few nicks so it proves the tutorials on this site are excellent.So my question is this can you use a balsa paddle strop without paste?

I have one and I use it unpasted 100% of the time. My only qualms about it is the seller did not tell me the girt rating at the time I bought it so I have no idea what the raiting is and I did not know enough to ask ast the time, although I suspect that it has a rather low grit rating.

Originally Posted by reggyboy

Absolutely new to Straight razors,but i purchased a vintage razor and have had my first shave(it came shave ready)and only a few nicks so it proves the tutorials on this site are excellent.So my question is this can you use a balsa paddle strop without paste?

You can strop your razor on newspaper to good effect. I am not sure what benefit you would get from untreated balsa. I imagine it would do something but an application of chrome ox or diamond paste or spray would undoubtedly improve your results. That said I personally think that for maintaining a straight razor a leather/linen strop is hard to beat. My preference is for a hanging strop while some get along fine with a paddle.

Here is one post on making a pasted balsa strop and here is another.

Thanks for the prompt answers all appreciated,the reason i asked is because i have just made a balsa paddle strop but do not have any paste yet .Could you give me some guidance on stropping with newspaper.
thanks