Thread: Hanging Pasted Strop

I want to get a pasted hanging strop. I don't want to paste a linen one or one that is part of a leather combo. Just a dedicated pasted strop, at least 24" long that I can hang on the wall. Is there anyone out there who makes a strop for this purpose or do most of you guys make your own? I've read a few of you use a pressed wool or something like that. That sounds appealing to me. Names or links would be very helpful. Thanx, Dr. Matt

I think an Illinois imperial Russian strop would work nice for that purpose.

Ok... So what are you going to paste it with?

I'm thinking 1/10 th micron CBN sprey

I have a double sided bench strop with basic leather and use that for pastes. it works very well. Of course it's not a hanging strop.

CBN is different especially at .10 CBN does improve the edge but may be a big jump from a finishing stone. .10 is somewhere between 100 and 160 grit. Who knows really, it’s a bunch.

I have been using a 1.0, .05, .125 progression and those are big jumps. This is after a very shavable edge finishing on a Thüringen, Arks Black or Translucent and lately playing with some BBWs.

To get results you really need good prep, CBN is not magical but it can deliver some crisp edges.

One of the other things I have noticed with CBN in nano grits is the strop material makes all the difference. Many substrates used for normal pasting, contain grits larger than the CBN micro grit it self, there by negating the paste. So using traditional substrates like leather, balsa, linen and even paper may not deliver the full potential of CBN.

Many CBN users use paper or cloth, the least abrasive, as a substrate and H2O mist as a lubricant. A proper CBN progression will result in a stria free bevel and a crisp sharp edge that delivers a comfortable shave unlike poly diamond, (isn't that the goal?) . High density foam, (Craft Foam) seems the best substrate I have found. Available for about a dollar at craft stores and fine weave nylon/poly webbing similar to seatbelt material. These have no abrasive in them, the weave or pores hold paste well and tolerate being wet repeatedly.

From a daily use perspective, I find the hanging felt strops to be very effective, particularly with the .5 diamond spray, .5 CBN or chromium oxide sprays. The results for me are usually pretty similar with all three. I used to use 10 very light pressure strokes with each at the end of a honing regiment or as a refresh, but have found that 5-7 strokes is more effective and consistent for me. I am still playing with the .1 micron CBN and the jury is out right now, so no comment there. I want to try a couple hundred more razors first.

My second preference are the pastes used very sparingly on the poly webbing strops, cotton canvas or on the back of my leather strops.

Have fun

Thanx Lynn and everyone else. I was going to order the felt strop from SRD but I decided to use an older shelved leather strop and put some Neats foot oil on it and sprayed with .10 CBN, (this gave it a slight paste consistency). It works INCREDIBLY!!!! Brings the edge right back to that Wicked sharp BBS finish. Transformed my shaving!

Matt, just curious what are you using for a finish stone before CBN .10? What do the bevel & edge look like after CBN? Are you going straight from finish stone to .10 CBN?

I have found .05 Chrome Oxide, post finish stone reduces the jump to CBN Nano sprays and produces a finer and comfortable shaving edge. The stria on the bevel seems to have some correlation to comfort, for me. Nano Poly Diamond will get your edge sharp, but my face can’t take it. When viewing under magnification a lot of stria is present on the bevel and a saw tooth edge with Poly diamond.

CBN flattens the stria and the edge, much more comfortable than Poly Diamond.

Less is more, stria that is.

Very good observation Euclid. I go through the Shaptons ending with the 15K but lately have replaced that one with the 12k Naniwa. I then go to the CBN sprays, .5, .10 and .050 on Nano cloth. I then strop on leather, no fabric. After one shave, I've noticed a drop-off so this is when I run the blade on about 10 passes on this leather strop with the .10 CBN.
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In case that doesn't work:
The Secret To Creating The Perfect Straight Razor Edge - YouTube