Thread: Balsa strops: when to use?

Originally Posted by evert67

Thanks, Blix. So you always use balsa with a stropping compound, never without it?

And what is the advantage of stropping with balsa + chromium oxide over stropping with leather + chromium oxide?

I use balsa with 0.50/0.25/0.125 CBN sprays sometimes.
Balsa is always used with a paste or spray on it, never by itself.

Leather before each shave is always used unpasted, just clean leather, I also use linen.

I tend to use CrOx on a leather strop, used after honing, and for refreshing now and then.
CroX on leather is a bit less aggressive than CrOx on balsa.
But for a weekly touch up that might be a good thing.(Balsa being a bit more effective)