Bakers razor8/30/2023 These strops are composed of a piece of leather or felt affixed to a wooden base that can be placed on a table top or work bench. What was once just used for knives and chisels, bench strops have gained popularity in the straight razor world. Balsawood strops are not recommended for everyday use. These strops are cheap (usually only a few dollars), readily available (your local craft store) and work very well at refreshing an edge. ![]() These strops consist of a flat piece of balsa wood that’s designed to be impregnated with a stropping paste or compound. Here’s a video I did about how you can make a newspaper strop: It’s highly recommend for the beginner and works in a pinch for all experience levels. Even better, you don’t have to worry about slicing it up or maintaining it. The ink makes the paper slightly abrasive, which is just enough to give your razor a nice edge. Believe it or not newspaper, makes an excellent material for stropping straight razors. While hanging strops dominate the straight razor world, there are several other types of strops that deserve recognition. The sharpest edge possible is achieved with the help of diamond compounds but be careful, the edge may become so sharp the results may be uncomfortable for the face. You’ll need a small microscope and multiple strops to truly understand how this stuff works. Diamond Pastes/SpraysĪvailable in both paste and spray forms, diamond compounds come in different micron sizes for different applications and are reserved for the serious straight razor user. These versions tend to be cut with other components and may not be suitable for straight razors. Beware of pastes found at hardware stores and other big box retailers. For most users that’s more than sufficient. Chromium OxideĬhromium oxide is the most common paste you’ll find today. Separate strop required, approximately 1 micron. Separate strop required, approximately 1-2 microns. Used for the canvas/linen side and slightly refreshes the blade. It’s used to condition the canvas/linen side of the strop. It’s used for conditioning the leather side of the strop. They are color coded for easy identification. These pastes are produced by companies like Dovo and Theirs Issard. Common micron sizes for stropping straight razors range from 1 micron (14,000 grit)-all the way down to. They’re measured in microns rather than grit due to their tiny size. Pastes and sprays are measured just like sandpaper and sharpening stones. You’ve probably heard many straight razor users discuss the use of pastes and sprays. You will end up with a damaged edge or worse, a ruined strop. All of the movies, cartons and television shows that show a barber rapidly stropping a razor have it wrong. Remember to take it slow and use very light pressure. Here is a short video on stropping technique. This technique is called the x-stroke and requires the user to strop the razor in an “x” pattern. Smaller strops require this process to be done alternatively in order to get the entire blade covered. Use the secondary component (canvas, linen, felt or cotton webbing) to “heat up” the blade in order to remove oxidation and microscopic burs that would embed themselves in the smooth side.Rolling the razor on its edge will cause damage to both the razor and strop. When you reach the end turn the razor on its spine so that the edge faces you.Draw the razor over the surface leading with the spine with a very light touch. You want to set the razor on the stropping surface with the blade facing away from you.Whether you’re using a custom kangaroo leather strop or a piece of newspaper the technique remains the same. The process of stropping a straight razor is quite simple but requires a gentle hand and some patience. ![]() ![]() Let’s take a moment to go over exactly how to strop a razor. There are many different variations, but the technique and process is the same. While the razor may feel “sharper” after stropping it is actually “keener” since no metal has been removed from the blade. The term stropping is often misinterpreted with the term “sharpening”. Stropping a straight razor is the process that straightens, and polishes the blade using a flexible fabric (such as cotton weave, linen, denim, felt), strip of leather, or newspaper. So what is stropping exactly? Let’s go over the fundamentals. This question comes up frequently in online discussions. Which one is right for you? Let’s break it down in simple terms. There are so many different types, components, brands, sizes. Your next step is to purchase a shaving strop. You’ve chosen your razor, you’ve learned to lather with a shaving brush, and you’re mentally ready to start shaving with a straight razor.
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