Remember first of all to lap the Balsa. I used crox on balsa before, heat up both the crox and the balsa and put the very soft crox on a lint free cloth...gently apply a nice even coat to the balsa and allow to harden before first use, now, what I moved onto was...keep the crox balsa and remove as much crox as you can, glue a piece of 3mm felt onto the balsa and reapply the crox, you get a much better draw and a better edge, the felt was about £2 on ebay and plenty for 3 or 4 strops, I also have a dia spray one on the felt, the spray is expensive at £25 for a small pump spray bottle....tho it has lasted a year with plenty left.
I use diamond paste on balsa and started like most newbies using way to much. Now I add some linseed oil and smear on sparingly trying to work it into the strop then wiping off the excesses. I am sure spray would be easier to apply but I am cheap so paste it is and it works really well on my razors but don't overdo the number of laps.
This is what I got and I am happy with it. The prices have gone up a bit. If I remember correctly I paid about 18€ with shipping for the 3 pastes.
They correspond with 0.5 mic, 0.25mic and 0.1mic
Diamond Polishing Pastes Kit (H) 3x5 g; Size 200,000 100,000 50,000 Grit Mesh | eBay
Diamond Polishing Pastes Kit (H) 3x5 g; Size 200,000 100,000 50,000 Grit Mesh | Collectibles, Rocks, Fossils & Minerals, Lapidary Materials | eBay!www.ebay.ie
Those will last you few years. You use just tiny bit about every month...Thanks Sammie, very helpful
Gold dollar are cheap and can provide a decent shaving edge, good to practice on without fear of ruining it. The GD 66 needs a little work before you hone it coz the shoulder interferes with the honing, just take one 1/8th off the heel and make it a bit rounder, the Gold Monkey 666 is another cheapo but can be made to shave well...the 66 is notoriously harder to hone for beginners tho. There are a few, so pick one that takes your fancy.
As a newbie I bought a shave ready Gold Dollar from Billy on Ebay, heel and spine were modified, edge was as good as any. I also bought one factory fresh from China but never managed to get it shave ready. So I would recommend vintage Solingen without hone wear or smile to practice on for a newbie.
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