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Thread: Balsa Strop

  1. #1
    Lookin like a crim baldy's Avatar
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    Default Balsa Strop

    I'm going to make a pasted Balsa Strop on the weekend and i was just wondering if it matters what grit sandpaper i use to lap it flat? If so can enyone give me some guidance?
    Thanks
    Grant
    "I aint like that no more...my wife, she cured me of drinking and wickedness"
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    Texas Guy from Missouri LarryAndro's Avatar
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    I doubt it makes much difference what grit sandpaper you use, and will gladly be corrected by other SRP members.

    Pasted linen strops, which are used roughly in the same function as a balsa strop, are rough by their very nature. When you strop on balsa, even with light pressure, the blade sinks into the strop slightly (due to the soft character of the wood.) I think this also indicates that the smoothness of the balsa wood is not the most important factor.

    For my month's use of balsa, (warning: not an expert), I use the balsa straight from a hobby shop with good results.

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    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LarryAndro View Post
    For my month's use of balsa, (warning: not an expert), I use the balsa straight from a hobby shop with good results.
    +1 I went to the local hobby shop and bought 1/8"x3"x3' Aircraft balsa for like $1.49 and it was about as flat as necessary.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

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    Senior Member 2Sharp's Avatar
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    I use from 180 to 220 grit with success. It doesn't matter too much as your paste will fill the depressions in the wood.

    bj
    Don't go to the light. bj

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    baldy (09-11-2009)

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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Default Balsa paddles

    Quote Originally Posted by baldy View Post
    I'm going to make a pasted Balsa Strop on the weekend and i was just wondering if it matters what grit sandpaper i use to lap it flat? If so can enyone give me some guidance?
    Thanks
    Grant
    baldy,

    I made up a handful of 3" x 12" paddles with handles for the Upper Midwest Shaving Society's recent meeting. These were of shop scrap: Medex water resistant MDF and some yellow poplar both with an 1/8" balsa veneer. After they were glued with Titebond wood glue I touched up the surface with an 80 grit sanding block and finished with some 120. For things like this I think you can go nuts with ultra fine sandpaper which may just create smooth hills and valleys. In the shop I have sanding blocks made up with belt sander belts cut and glued to 1" particle board blocks so the resulting surface is fairly flat ( +/- .005" according to the manufacturers). ChrisL did the pencil grid marking and lapping on one and said it was pretty flat, so I think the technique is adequate for making a paddle strop.

    good luck, good stropping,

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    baldy (09-11-2009)

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