Thread: balsa strop? good or no?

I am looking into buying a strop and one of the best sets I have found includes a balsa strop. any input would be greatly appreiciated, I am still brand new at this.

I use one. It does the job. Some feel it leaves a harsh edge. Crox on felt is good alternative. Stropping on canvas and leather after balsa seems to tame it for me.

What about straight from Balsa to leather? have you tried that, or think it would work? the reason I ask is the set includes a balsa and leather strop but not a canvas one, and if necessary I can easily produce a canvas strop myself or purchase one.

I have been using a balsa strop sprayed with Crox on some razors that I just had not been able to get right, even with Crox on linen. At this time it appears to have worked. Still early in the process but I may become a believer.

I use a three inch balsa block impregnated with CrO. About 30-40 laps on the balsa, then leather for 120 makes my razors shave ready.

A good deal of the time after honing I will use CroX and .25uM diamond paste on balsa, with very reliable results. But that's just me.

Originally Posted by Boots

What about straight from Balsa to leather? have you tried that, or think it would work? the reason I ask is the set includes a balsa and leather strop but not a canvas one, and if necessary I can easily produce a canvas strop myself or purchase one.

Well I just recently added the canvas. I am not really sold on it yet but those with far more experience than I have seem to find it useful. I used the same set you are looking at for awhile when developing technique and it works just fine.

There are many many let me say many ways to get to a razor's edge. It is one reason this is so enjoyable.

Originally Posted by Boots

I am looking into buying a strop and one of the best sets I have found includes a balsa strop. any input would be greatly appreiciated, I am still brand new at this.

My usual warning to new users. Anything that involves abrasives will usually magnify your stropping faults 10x. Get your linen & leather stropping down pat first then consider harsher media.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

My usual warning to new users. Anything that involves abrasives will usually magnify your stropping faults 10x. Get your linen & leather stropping down pat first then consider harsher media.

No intention towards contention, but didn't gssixgun address this issue by trying to over strop an edge with pasted strops? .5 micron paste IMVHO might on a balsa block be capable (stress might be) of producing a harsh edge(according to some faces) but it would seem stropping or using the crox on canvas or felt lessens the effect and smoothes an otherwise "harsh" edge according to Lyn's advice.

Unless one is pressing the edge with spine off the strop I don't see the harm.

I have been known to be wrong.

for me it's a godsend..... it gave my TI 'Wheatfield' a wickedly sharp edge, which in turn gives me a truly smooth shave... Bliss!!