Thread: Stropping on unpasted wool felt?

Does anyone use the hard wool felt as their "linen" before stropping on leather? I have read some about their superior use for diamond sprays and various pastes, but I'm curious how it would work for daily use without anything additional? Thanks!
Greg

I experimented with this when I first started testing out the hard felt and it worked fine without any paste or sprays. I was a little surprised and I don't know why, but it did a nice job.

Lynn

I've read that it is good without the paste or spray. I think it is supposedly slightly more abrasive than linen. I used mine without anything when I first got it but not enough to draw any conclusion. Shortly thereafter I sprayed it and have used it that way since then for touching up or enhancing an already sharp edge. I would say use it clean for a time and see how it works for you and let us know.

I use my wool strop before my leather and haven't noticed any problems thus far.

I just got a Wool strop from Hand American. I left one side pristine and put on the .5 micron spray supplied with the strop on the other side. Keith recommended this. I use the unsprayed side with each shave and will be using the sprayed side for occasional touch up -- OK, I did put all my currently in-use blades through a session on the sprayed side to start off with. Who could resist?

I have been using this for about a week mostly on my favorite blade and it continues to shave perfectly.

I glued a felt pad onto a piece of balsawood. Then pasted the center 1/3 section of the felt with .5 diamond paste. The edge became sharp enough to warrant a few passes on .5 CrOx to mellow the edge.

Felt pads work for me but I haven't tried a hanging felt strop yet. Soon.

Jerry

I am about to buy Lynn's magnetic paddle strop with the .5 diamond spray on wool. Can't seem to find the flat bed bench that he uses in one of the videos online anywhere. (If anybody knows let me know). My question is concerning the 1.0 m diamond spray for a slightly duller blade. Is it best to apply it to a roughed leather or should I put it on a hard wool felt like everyone seems to be recommending for the .5?

Originally Posted by Lynn

I experimented with this when I first started testing out the hard felt and it worked fine without any paste or sprays. I was a little surprised and I don't know why, but it did a nice job.

Lynn

It's interesting I found this thread in a search.

The leather and pressed wool felt strop (two separate strops) I received last Christmas have been a mystery to me. I, of course, have used the leather, but decided to give the felt a try - with 100 passes.

Both of my razors suddenly sprung to life like they've never done before!

Now, before each shave I let them have 60 on the felt and 20 on the leather. I swear, I don't even think I need the leather!

Keeping in mind all I have for hones is the 4000/8000 Norton I think I should have been using the felt all along!

No sprays, no additives, but will continue with that felt.

SRP does it again!

Guys, Try to keep your responses geared toward's the OP's question, and not Hijack his thread. Please be respectful, and start a new thread if you have questions, Thank you.

To the OP. Yes, you absolutely can use the Hard Wool Felt as a Linen prior to leather. However, It does excel with sprays, especially the Diamond. I like the .5 diamond spray. 10 lapps as my final finisher, It gives your blade the extra keeness we all look for....

I concur - I use the wool felt (untreated) as a pre-strop before leather...