im going to get a strop and i need to figure out what paste to get. should i get something like this.. http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=J75B or something like this... http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=J55 for the strop i was thinking maybe one like this https://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=731&cat=102&page=1 or this one http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=IRS127
For starters, I'd get the paddle strop and leave it at that. It already has .5 green paste on one side for occasional touch-ups. The side for daily use shouldn't have any abrasive paste on it at all, and needn't be oiled if it's already supple. If you do oil it it should be done lightly and infrequently, and for that shea butter or neetsfoot oil works as well as anything. Best Regards goshawk
You might want to browse this thread... http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15797 I did some info on pastes in there at the bottom too... By far the most "universal" paste is .50 CrOx it seems to improve every razor, very rarely do you hear of somebody not liking it... Diamond can be a wee bit finicky for some people and razors. the .50 is a solid performer but the.25 doesn't work good on all razors nor all media nor all faces... Unless you are going to get very serious about honing /pasting/ getting edges stupid sharp and smooth the .50 CrOx is the best to go with....
I'm reading your post and it sounds like your looking for a paste for everday stropping as you don't have a strop and now you want/need one. Am I correct? If not read no further. If I am correct, stop. You do not need or want pastes on your daily strop. Yes, some people do use graphite or chalk on their cloth strops for daily stropping. That said, its not necessary and its personal preference. I might also suggest that those people are probably in the minority. A cloth/leather strop is all you need. You *may* have to condition your strop with neatsfoot oil some time in the distant future, but for the most part, follow the instructions that come with your strop. Don't paste it unless you want to use it solely for touch ups.
well....i was mostly looking into getting the sharpest edge possible. i have 1k, 3k, 6k, and 12k stones. from what im reading on here a strop can get it even sharper right? iv also read that its not 100% necessary. is that what your saying? i just finished sharpening my first razor after hrs and hrs of watching "how to" vids....and...it wasnt that sharp. or at least other people say the can get it to pass the HHT. but this one didnt but it shaved better than it used to. so i thought a strop could help me out. or is it just my sharpening technique that is off?
A Linen/Leather strop is an every day before every shave tool... A pasted strop is a refresher or after honing strop... If you are looking for more "sharp" then look at your stones, pasted strops should be used after honing to refine an already sharp edge, not to sharpen the edge...
ok....and in your opinion...should i be able to get a really sharp edge with the stones i have? the 1k is a Bester, 3k is a Trade Mark, 6k is a King, 12k is a Kitayama...all of course synthetic. and if it helps i got the stones here...http://japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&dept_id=13118 in case you need to see them. but i was also thinking about getting natural stones from here...http://www.namikawa-ltd.co.jp/cgi-bin/list_e.cgi they have a sword polishing kit for i think $450... any help would be great thanx. oh...forgot to mention i also have the 4 arkansas stones....the little ones though. they are glazed so i dont think that they really work right now. i need to find a way to "clean" them. has anyone used the arkansas stones before?
well....either im moving to it too quickly or its just not cutting it fast enough. not sure. im about to give it another try in a min.
Your stones are plenty to get a fine shaving edge. You can tweak it with a pasted strop though. I recommend HandAmerican. Their diamond spray and liquid chromium oxide are great. Getting back to your current tools, I suggest you test the edge after each stone. Look here.
