INSTRUCTIONS - Making & Using Diamond Pasted Balsa Strops [Rev. B]

rbscebu

rbscebu

Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2020
Location
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia
Refining a SR on diamond pasted balsa strops may not be for everyone but many will appreciate shaving with probably the sharpest edge that they can put onto a traditional straight razor.

The attached instructions are a dynamic document that will be revised as now things are learned and questions raised by those who use them. Any questions or suggestions should be posted in this thread.

 
CTP said:
Richard - have you considered making YouTube videos?
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I have already made a few very short YouTube videos where I thought they were needed. Videos covering about all aspects of SR shaving have already been made by others and published.

I you believe that an aspect of using diamond pasted balsa strops needs a video, let me know and I will consider it.
 
So just to clarify.
I need diamond paste grits:
100 000
50 000
10 000
?
Also the AU (Rubyvale and cut) seller give no info about concentration.
 
karol.elec said:
So just to clarify.
I need diamond paste grits:
100 000
50 000
10 000
?
Also the AU (Rubyvale and cut) seller give no info about concentration.
Click to expand...
NO.

You need:
200 000 grit = 0.1μm
100 000 grit = 0.25μm
50 000 grit = 0.5μm

I should include that in the next revision. Thank you for bring that up.

Don't worry about concentrations. Any concentration will do. To applyit, you will be watering it down with rubbing alcohol.
 
I think you should make a video - I want to “meet” the legend that mentoring the next generation of SR shavers :)
 
rbscebu said:
NO.

You need:
200 000 grit = 0.1μm
100 000 grit = 0.25μm
50 000 grit = 0.5μm

I should include that in the next revision. Thank you for bring that up.

Don't worry about concentrations. Any concentration will do. To applyit, you will be watering it down with rubbing alcohol.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much.
Thats really confusing. I was sure that grit 1000
Means 1/1000 mm, 10000 means 1/10000 mm etc.
 
Hey Richard,
I’m wondering if a cheap chopping board of suitable thickness could be cut up to make a suitable substrate for the balsa? You can grab ones 12mm thick fairly cheap at big w or K mart. Might have to glue two bits together.
 
Andrew C said:
Hey Richard,
I’m wondering if a cheap chopping board of suitable thickness could be cut up to make a suitable substrate for the balsa? You can grab ones 12mm thick fairly cheap at big w or K mart. Might have to glue two bits together.
Click to expand...
Read section 9 of the instructions again.

You can use a part of a chopping board as the underside part of your substrate but you will still need to use a piece of tile on top to mount the balsa on. The tile is needed as it doesn't warp or swell with atmospheric changes.

Using a heavier timber will make the overall balsa strop heavier. This will make it more tiring to hold and will not work as well with the 0.1μm strop when being used hanging. You may find the using balsa wood instead of a chopping board may also be cheaper and easier.
 
I think that you will be surprised with diamond pasted balsa strop edge.

Just remember, diamond pasted balsa strops do notake an edge shave-ready, they just further improve an already good shave-ready edge. The 0.1μm pasted balsa strop (hanging) used after every shave will keep the edge in in pristine condition.
 
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