Thread: Your Preference - Pasted Linen/felt, etc. or Leather or Balsa

I would think with diamond because it is such a hard media the background would make a really big difference. The harder the surface the less rebound from the diamond and the more force exerted on the blade. I don't know that anyone has experimented with this but it would be interesting.

I tried .1 micron film on granite. Wicked sharp but not in a bad way, only thing is edge doesn't last. So far I like the edge off felt and diamond slurry, very sharp and lasts.

On Granite huh? That sounds sounds like something I would try.

Dia film from lee valley, I had a granite tile cut into 3x6. peel the film and stick it on. I need to try film on a piece of moist copy paper on granite. Theres too many ways to skin a cat it seems.

I generally use leather alone without pastes, but sometimes I'll go with leather all by itself, or both.

Originally Posted by ace

I generally use leather alone without pastes, but sometimes I'll go with leather all by itself, or both.

Huh? Oh, wait, funny!

Lots of different approaches. I'm not hearing any consensus and I can't say I've found the magic for myself. I most commonly use spray on CrOx .5 on felt for 15 trips or so, often followed by .1 CNB on felt. It sharpens the razor nicely for around five shaves.

Does anyone strop on linen, then do the pasted/sprayed felt followed by stropping on leather vs the alternative which would be pasted/sprayed felt, then linen then leather stropping? Anyone think there's a difference?

Have you tried this system with and without using a razor?

Originally Posted by ace

I generally use leather alone without pastes, but sometimes I'll go with leather all by itself, or both.

Originally Posted by WW243

Have you tried this system with and without using a razor?

The without a razor mode does produce results. I have thought hard many a time about buying 8-12 more types of strops/materials, 5 or so carats worth of diamonds in various sizes, and a small crate filled with all the strop goop but have resisted and still get remarkably good shaves off of my leather!

The next experiment will be to think about buying more razors without actually pulling the trigger...