This is how I do it....
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGVNbMvvOJI[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGVNbMvvOJI[/YOUTUBE]
Newspaper stropping
- Thread starter Seraphim
- Start date
Yup, that's the one!
Very helpful if you don't have a strop with you or if you practice stropping. It won't replace leather but still better than nothing!
Very helpful if you don't have a strop with you or if you practice stropping. It won't replace leather but still better than nothing!
In your video you mention that the newspaper has "a nice big graphic" on it. Is this important to the stropping?
Should there be a concern about the amount of newsprint on the page. Is more on a page better or worse than less?
These are more technical questions. I do not think generally it would really matter. Perhaps from a microscopic level there could be a slight issue. I am not aware how much above height the newsprint adds to the paper (if any, as I think it gets absorb into the paper).
Should there be a concern about the amount of newsprint on the page. Is more on a page better or worse than less?
These are more technical questions. I do not think generally it would really matter. Perhaps from a microscopic level there could be a slight issue. I am not aware how much above height the newsprint adds to the paper (if any, as I think it gets absorb into the paper).
- Thread starter
- #4
The idea is that the more print on the page, the better. Back in the day, the newspring was made from ink with carbon black. The carbon acted like very fine cromox (0.1um). Nowadays, they often use soy based ink, so I'm not sure how that affects the final result. My personal, non-substantiated opinion is that the fiber from the paper itself may play a part in the smoothing action for the edge.
Think the library would get angry if I pulled out old news papers and started stropping them to compare new vs vintage newspaper?
(I'd probably get hauled off to jail)
Great video , love the music , very motivational. I use newspaper sometimes to finish the edge of my kitchen knives. Works great.
- Thread starter
- #8
We may have to start a sub-forum to discuss the finer points of edge refinement of pre 1970's New York Times vs. mid-80's Wall Street Journals, and how you can really put a fantastic edge on Swedish steel if you can find a 1967 Chicago Tribune sports section.....
Oh yeah, you should see the edge I can put on my razor with a Kindle 
Come on, take one for the team
What you really need is some vintage Swedish newspaperWe may have to start a sub-forum to discuss the finer points of edge refinement of pre 1970's New York Times vs. mid-80's Wall Street Journals, and how you can really put a fantastic edge on Swedish steel if you can find a 1967 Chicago Tribune sports section.....
Actually, newspaper stropping was the norm 100 years ago in Sweden.
There is plenty of straights to be found in thrift-stores, yard-sales & while doing some dumpster diving, but hardly any strops.
I've pondered that fact for a while & the simple answer is that regular folks just didn't have a strop. Times were hard & leather was expensive.
But yesterdays newspaper was readily available.
Almost everyone that I talk to that has some recollection of their granddads shaving with a straight, remember the newspaper stropping.
So it definitely works!
But I do like linen/leather better.
The best use I've found for it is to smoothen out a harsh edge, like the one you can get from diamond paste.
It actually smooths most edges, like Thuri & high grit naniwa.
My way of doing it is to simply lay a couple of pages at the end of a table & strop away.
But this way is actually cooler.
You do seem to get very creative while staying at a hotel Craig
Please, please, someone start a sub-forum!
I'm actually going to use the newspaper method until my new strop arrives, I'm just hoping I don't up my blade, yikes!
We may have to start a sub-forum to discuss the finer points of edge refinement of pre 1970's New York Times vs. mid-80's Wall Street Journals, and how you can really put a fantastic edge on Swedish steel if you can find a 1967 Chicago Tribune sports section.....
I'm actually going to use the newspaper method until my new strop arrives, I'm just hoping I don't up my blade, yikes!
Sorry to go off thread, but i also read somewhere that soot/ashes was used as a strooping powder years ago as well, anyone tried this method?
- Thread starter
- #13
Yes, that is another way to go as well. I applied some ash to the back of one of my TM strops a while back
So, here's my recommendation:
Sit back with a Sunday newspaper, enjoy a fine cigar (single malt whisky is not required, but is recommended...)...save the ashes, sprinkle upon the newspaper whne done reading it, and strop away!
Yes, to no effect.
If you think CrOx is messy, think again.
Soot gets everywhere. EVERYWHERE.
If you still want to try it, simply take a burnt out piece of charcoal from the grille & rub it against a newspaper or a piece of leather (please spare your Tony Miller horsehide...)
Or if you have an open fire-place, use the soot from the chimney.
Even messier then charcoal.
I like the idea about a cigar and a glass of whiskeynot so sure about the mess though, thanks for the answers guys, its good to read these things on the web, but much better to get some real time answers
not so sure about the mess though, thanks for the answers guys, its good to read these things on the web, but much better to get some real time answers- Thread starter
- #16
You do seem to get very creative while staying at a hotel Craig
Yes, the jet lag going from Boston to Osaka gets my creative juices flowing at 2a.m.....
Here's a link to a semi "how-to" cigar ash your strop.
I think sprinkling it on gthe newspaper would be a better idea.
And whiskey....definitely whiskey, it may actually be the key to the whole process!
I personally like to use Rhodia and Clairfontaine paper as the surface of this fine writing paper is very smooth and they have precise control of the water supply going to the paper mills. Another interesting choice is bagasse paper, made from sugar cane pulp which also has an extremely fine finish. There are several Japanes brands of paper for pens that are quite nice too.
Sailor, makers of both Japanese pens and inks has one ink called Kiwaguro composed of carbon 'nanoparticles' of unspecified size. It's a great permanent waterproof ink and you could apply it to paper if you want. Alternatively you can use an ink stone and an ink stick to make your own carbon ink or use India Ink (NOT recommended for fountain pens as the particles are coarser than Kiwaguro carbon particles. Sword polishers use the firescale from the forging process that drops into the fire finely ground up for some of the final stages of sword polishing (nigui I believe is the correct spelling) Might be fun to try on a razor.
---
Ken
Sailor, makers of both Japanese pens and inks has one ink called Kiwaguro composed of carbon 'nanoparticles' of unspecified size. It's a great permanent waterproof ink and you could apply it to paper if you want. Alternatively you can use an ink stone and an ink stick to make your own carbon ink or use India Ink (NOT recommended for fountain pens as the particles are coarser than Kiwaguro carbon particles. Sword polishers use the firescale from the forging process that drops into the fire finely ground up for some of the final stages of sword polishing (nigui I believe is the correct spelling) Might be fun to try on a razor.
---
Ken
I smell a pen/paper/ink geek!!!
I wonder if the French Ruled paper works better than the other types of Clairefontaine.
I just got some Double A brand paper that is made from "sustainable trees" that has a fine finish, similar to the Bagasse.
I haven't been able to find the carbon Black sailor ink in the US at a decent price. I think Platinum makes a similar ink to the sailor but I haven't found this either. Interesting idea with the ink sticks, I'll have to track some of this down.
Ahh, more stuff to experiment with.
thanks for this tutorial, it helps
I am going for travel next week, and I'll do the stropping on the New York times!
I am going for travel next week, and I'll do the stropping on the New York times!
