Thread: balsa wood strop?

I think I understand the concept of the balsa wood from what I have read on whipped dog. Do many people use this method? do you prefer to use paste or spray on the back of leather or poly? is there a benefit to the balsa being a bit stiffer when trying to refresh a razor?
thanks!
nooooobs!

I personally no longer use a balsa wood strop. I got my balsa originally from Larry at whipped dog. I prefer to use the continual hone method with a 12K hone and double sided paddle strop which has latigo leather on one side and bridal leather on the other.

I strop before and after every shave (20 passes on Bridal). I run the razor over the hone for 5-6 passes every week or so, followed by 30 on the Latigo then 30 on the Bridal.


Works for me and gives me the edge my skin likes.


Enjoy

Kevin, how often does your razor to go through re honing when using the continual hone method? If that adds significant life I may pick one up cheap to avoid having to send in for honing again. Not quite ready to invest in a 4k/8k to do it all from scratch.

do you utilize pastes or sprays at all?

Originally Posted by Jmchugh

Kevin, how often does your razor to go through re honing when using the continual hone method? If that adds significant life I may pick one up cheap to avoid having to send in for honing again. Not quite ready to invest in a 4k/8k to do it all from scratch.

do you utilize pastes or sprays at all?

Well the thoery is that the razor will go on indefinitely as long as the edged does not get damaged. Stropping on a soft surface rounds the edge where as refreshing it once a week stops that process. Its working so far.

I don't use pastes or sprays as my barbers hone / paddle strop gives me a really nice edge in my opinion. I just lather up my little hone and off i go.

They say a pasted leather hanging strop will possibly round an edge whereas balsa is stiff and straight and will not. I don't know about all of that. I use a balsa strop from Larry with CrOx and FeOx and it works so good I have never tried anything else. If it ain't broke kinda thing. I am sure curiosity will get me at some point. Give em both a try and see which you like the best. At some point I think felt will be something I try but for now I'm happy where I'm at.

Im just a lazy dog… I like simple…

The balsa is great until you have to make / buy another and you have to make a trip away from the bathroom to sharpen. My 12k small barbers hone sits on the bathroom shelf and as soon as I get the slightest pull in my chin hair I just wet, then lather my hone and give my razor 5-6 passes then a quick strop, often in mid shave.

Easy…. Simple…. Sorted….

Originally Posted by kevinred

Im just a lazy dog… I like simple…

The balsa is great until you have to make / buy another and you have to make a trip away from the bathroom to sharpen. My 12k small barbers hone sits on the bathroom shelf and as soon as I get the slightest pull in my chin hair I just wet, then lather my hone and give my razor 5-6 passes then a quick strop, often in mid shave.

Easy…. Simple…. Sorted….

I think I will give the continual hone method a try, only I don't have a barbers hone, but I do have a Naniwa 12k.

I think you may have convinced me to pick up a barbers hone...I was going to just get a balsa strop but this sounds like a longer term solution!

Thanks kevin

Originally Posted by Jmchugh

I think you may have convinced me to pick up a barbers hone...I was going to just get a balsa strop but this sounds like a longer term solution!

Thanks kevin

I use one of these, I know 12k Chinese stones are supposed to be hit and miss but it works for me and its inexpensive. It's just the right size for holding in the bathroom too.

I thought if it's rubbish I haven't lost much, but it works a treat. A mate of mine likes to shave off a 8K edge and does the same, this is much smoother than his, so even if its a 10K thats good too.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I think I will give the continual hone method a try, only I don't have a barbers hone, but I do have a Naniwa 12k.

That will work, just 5-6 passes is all you need. Don't get carried away…lol