Thread: Self-Honing Strop

Thought this was interesting and everyone might enjoy. It's on page 441, hope the link works.


Popular science monthly - Google Books

See, I was talking about a contraption like that a few months ago and people thought I was pulling their leg.

Ah, how sweet it is to have the proof

I would like to make one but no funds to support that. I would be willing to pay for one, as long as it wasn't outrageously priced (like most strops seem to me).

Great post! I also love the "electrically-operated screwdriver article." Ya can't call yerself a man without one of them there electricity screwdrivers nowadays!

so crocus is the same as? It seems they recommend a paddle strop over a hanging strop?

Originally Posted by Shoki

so crocus is the same as? It seems they recommend a paddle strop over a hanging strop?

No idea what Crocus is either but the strop thing yea. From what I can gather it is harder to roll the edge with a paddle like you easily can with a strop, no give no roll I guess.
At least that is what I am taking from it.

Originally Posted by TSasser

No idea what Crocus is either but the strop thing yea. From what I can gather it is harder to roll the edge with a paddle like you easily can with a strop, no give no roll I guess.
At least that is what I am taking from it.

You can still roll the edge if you dont keep the razor flat. I still prefer a hanging strop.

Crocus cloth is a sanding cloth. I think it might be the same as some of the chromium powders?

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

You can still roll the edge if you dont keep the razor flat. I still prefer a hanging strop.

True enough. I have a Hanging Strop only but am interested in a paddle or something similar to that.

Originally Posted by Shoki

Crocus cloth is a sanding cloth. I think it might be the same as some of the chromium powders?

That makes sense. The claim is to sharpen as well as polish.

Originally Posted by Shoki

so crocus is the same as?

It is a very fine form of powdered iron oxide, like jewellers rouge but suitable for polishing iron (the difference is that jewellers rouge is heated to a lower temperature during formation, so it is suitable for soft metals like gold, whereas crocus was heated to a higher temperature, giving a darker powder that was more suited to harder metals like iron).

Regards,
Neil