NanoCloth vs Balsa vs SomethingElse

[jgkeegan]

Back in early September, I posted that I had, after consulting with Tom Blodgett, decided on the following set of honing tools:

• Ken Schwartz Diamond Films for the Edge Pro (1x6) [glass on aluminum]:
• 9 micron heavy duty diamond film
• 6 micron heavy duty diamond film
• 3 micron heavy duty diamond film
• Ken Schwartz 1 micron CBN on 1x6 NanoCloth
• Ken Schwartz 0.125 micron CBN on 1x6 NanoCloth

Note that in September I had posted Balsa rather than NanoCloth.

Please don't infer that this is a system recommended by Tom Blodgett. It is not. It is a system Tom helped me work out after I spend a long time telling him what I didn't want to do and the result I still hoped for. That's one of the things I like most about Tom; he isn't wedded to a particular honing tool set but just the result.

Anyway, my question which most of read in the header: For those of you who are using pasted things, what things do you prefer and why?

What are your experiences with NanoCloth?

I've considered just finishing on Film. Seraphim's approach has worked very well for me in the past. But we all like to experiment and try new things and that's what I am doing.

--James

 

[Seraphim]

I actually finish on a hanging pasted cotton strop (Levi's belt, $8.95 at Sears).

I find the slight give afforded by the cotton and the sag gives a more comfortable, durable edge.

I never cared for balsa, as I feel it leads to an over refined edge that feels sort of harsh and unforgiving. But many on the forum love pasted balsa.

 

[jgkeegan]

I actually finish on a hanging pasted cotton strop (Levi's belt, $8.95 at Sears).

I find the slight give afforded by the cotton and the sag gives a more comfortable, durable edge.

I never cared for balsa, as I feel it leads to an over refined edge that feels sort of harsh and unforgiving. But many on the forum love pasted balsa.

I tried balsa last year and wasn't happy. That was probably the result of my very limited skill set. But the configuration I am using now is working like gangbusters. I'm curious more than anything else on the best finishing technique for me personally. My current thinking is that will be either the current setup or replace the NanoCloth with film.

The bigest change in my routine is that I now need to strop minimally and very lightly as opposed to the guys who are stropping huge numbers. I don't have a stropping routine. As the number of shaves on a blade increases, so does my stropping and the number of different strops I use. For me its easier to go back to a partial honing and bring the blade blade back to life than to stop a lot of reps.

--james

 

[gumbo]

I use chrox on balsa. I have found that with more use it gets more and more useful, if that makes sense.
The blade works to smooth the wood each time, and now the blade glides nicely across with little pressure.
I usually give 10 passes twice a week before stropping on linen and leather.

 

[jgkeegan]

I use chrox on balsa. I have found that with more use it gets more and more useful, if that makes sense.
The blade works to smooth the wood each time, and now the blade glides nicely across with little pressure.
I usually give 10 passes twice a week before stropping on linen and leather.

Makes sense to me.

I don't use much pressure on anything so we're in agreement there too. For me, the linen is a bit further up the abrasive chain. There are a few strops I use before getting up to the linen when I'm in a maintenance cycle.

--james