Easily make a pasted balsa strop
Originally posted by backpackerx.[1]
Just finished making a homemade balsa strop and thought I'd post here since it's so easy. I did this because I'm a newbie who has blown the budget for a while and can't buy one and also because it's so dead easy that even I, who have zero craftsman abilities, could do. Hopefully I can figure out how to get the pictures to post on here.
This literally requires 6 things. A porch or stair spindle from Home Depot ($2), a piece of Balsa from a craft store ($3), something to make one small 2" straight cut, a utility knife, glue, and some sand paper. I saw the spindle at Home Depot and noticed that if cut in half it would make a great base for the paddle and had a nice looking handle built right in! I simply cut the spindle in half, cut some balsa to fit the end, glued it on and sanded it to lap it flat. Cost about $5 and took about 10 minutes. See results below. The last picture is what the spindle looks like together.
- Making the strop
The Slartibartfast Pasted Strop
Materials needed: Some type of solid backer, i cut a piece of 12x12 tile i had laying around.
Balsa: You can find this at most hobby stores.
Some kind of glue
Clamps or something heavy to set on top once everything is glued down.
- Materials I used:
- I use clamps, a heavy object will work too once you glue to 2 pieces together
- Make a Grid on the balsa so you can lap it flat.
- Use a figure 8 or x-pattern until the marks are gone. You may want to wipe down the balsa with a damp towel afterward.
- Mix the Chromium Oxide powder with some mineral oil
- Much Easier to spread now
- Draw an X pattern and then spread
- What it looks like spread out. Note: this may be a little thick....
- Why I wear gloves when applying CrO
- Mark your pasted strop to avoid confusion later
