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Thread: Leather or balsa for CrOx?

  1. #1
    Senior Member Legion's Avatar
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    Default Leather or balsa for CrOx?

    I'm going to make a bench strop to use with CrOx. Hardwood with a pasted surface glued to it.

    IYO what would be the preferred surface to paste and why, balsa or leather?

    Thanks chaps.

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    50 year str. shaver mrsell63's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Legion View Post
    I'm going to make a bench strop to use with CrOx. Hardwood with a pasted surface glued to it.

    IYO what would be the preferred surface to paste and why, balsa or leather?

    Thanks chaps.
    ______________________________
    ________________________________-
    I have tried both ways and also denim stretched over wood and a pasted hanging strop. I prefer CrOx on a piece of English Bridle leather which I have pasted onto a ceramic tile. Very flat and rigid.

    Keep trying different ways until you find something to your liking......
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    JERRY
    OOOPS! Pass the styptic please.

  3. #3
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    Leather and Balsa give a different finish as do the different grades and brands of Chrome Ox and the carriers used in the crayon types.

    The more the substrate, leather or wood gives, deflects will alter how much abrasive edge is in contact with the steel and how aggressive it will cut/ polish.

    For abrasives/pastes I prefer a paddle and like 2mm foam the best. It seems to have the best give & polish of everything I’ve tested.

    But for the best edge try some MAAS on foam. It will give you a much finer and comfortable edge that Chrome Ox. I don’t even use Chrome Ox any more.

    Stropping on a paddle is one thing, buffing/polishing the edge is another, much like rubbing out or polishing your car, then buffing with a mechanical buffer as opposed to your hand. The results are dramatically different.

    Nylon is your mechanical buffer. A Nylon/Poly strop will make your bevel gleam and produce a fine edge. The finer the weave of the Poly/Nylon the better the buffing and finer the edge. There are some interesting photos taken by Dllandry on the "Strop forum" recently, showing the difference between Chrome Ox & Maas on a edge.

    If you want to experiment with wood and Chrome Ox go to Home Depot and get an handful of 5 gallon paint sticks, dab on some paste and put the razor to them. Cheap and easy, drill a hole on the end to hang them up and start experimenting.

    You will just have to find the combination that works best for you and for each razor.

    Marty

  4. #4
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    Has anyone tried a strip of "Shamoo" as a substrate for the paste? It would seem a logical substitute for felt.

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    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    I have all my pastes on bench strops with leather. I find it gives a good finish. I've tried plain hanging strops in the past but the bench strop idea is superior. As far as covering goes you just have to experiment to see which you prefer.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

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    50 year str. shaver mrsell63's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thebigspendur View Post
    I have all my pastes on bench strops with leather. I find it gives a good finish. I've tried plain hanging strops in the past but the bench strop idea is superior. As far as covering goes you just have to experiment to see which you prefer.
    _________________________________--
    ___________________________________--

    +1 on the leather bench strops. They are almost as rigid as a hone IMO.
    Less give, less edge distortion IMO.........
    JERRY
    OOOPS! Pass the styptic please.

  7. #7
    Nic by name not by nature Jeltz's Avatar
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    Has anyone experience of using it on a hone as per this video at about 2:15
    YouTube - Belgian Blue Whetstone honing
    Dachsmith likes this.

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    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
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    That video was done by Bart, who used to be a member here.

    I dont know if anyone else has tried it though, but he said it gave good results.

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