So a question came up about using pasted strops so I said I would take some time and open a discussion about using them First I will give my thoughts and experiences and then by all means please add yours to it.. Remember these are mostly opinions with just a few facts tossed in, and that pastes are a matter of preference, not really needed but sometimes enjoyed.. Over the years I have tried just about all of them and on just about every surface.. I have one strict rule for my use, I buy only the most pure pastes I can find, anything that is unknown or not specifically marked I just won't buy it Some of the worst offenders of this rule are the Crayon style pastes from Woodworking outlets, most of these are unknown and I just stay away .. There are a few different surfaces that are popular in the SR world, I am listing them and how I have found them to work for me... Felt - This works really well with the more effective cutting mediums like Diamond or CBN the felt allows for the medium to embed rather well and keeps it from feeling harsh.. Leather - This is what I have found to be the most "All Around Surface" it is forgiving enough for the effective cutters and still allows the softer cutters like the CrOx, CeOx, Dovo Pastes, and TI paste to work well also. The type of Leather can also make a very slight difference .. Linen, Cotton Weave, Webbing - Often this is what comes with your hanging strop and the inside surface can be employed for pasted use by the casual shaver for many many years.. It IMHO works the best with the old style Dovo and TI pastes but many other use it for the CrOx and CeOx and get good results.. I find it to be a bit harsh when used with Diamond or CBN.. CBN can also be used directly on Nanocloth and many swear by its smoothness, myself I wasn't gaga over it Balsa - This started years ago on the razor forums as a crossover from the Knife and Tool uses, many used to say "Test it on Balsa first before you dedicate a strop to it's use" the idea was that honestly once you paste any surface it is dedicated to that paste it just isn't worth the time and effort to try and clean that surface again So the idea behind a cheap Balsa strop was to give you at least an idea if you like a certain paste and then decide to paste a leather, felt, or linen strop, if you did.. Over the years people started using just Balsa.. Myself I have found it way to harsh and unforgiving for my liking, but again these are personal opinions.. Newspaper - Although an abrasive in it own right, this can work really well for testing pastes, or for the casual user.. I actually like using newspaper for stropping while on vacation, if I shave at all while on vacation... So those are my opinions and a bit of history too would love to hear yours Abrasive pastes that I have used and heard about Dovo Green - Red - Black TI CrOx CeOx Diamond Pastes Diamond Sprays CBN FeOx Lamp Black Ash Lead Black Polish Metal Polishes Pencil Lead Newspaper Toothpaste (Not Gel) I am probably forgetting some also
Thanks for your response, Glen. I don't have anything to add at this point other than I'm looking forward to hearing others 'voices of experience' on this topic. Can I assume these are the type of CrOx bars that are best left for polishing, and not for stropping? *Click to see*
Yes that is the correct assumption, you can of course check the purity by finding the MSDS on any of them, whet we found in the past was quite telling with many as low as 30% pure
Honing and sharpening is the only place I haven't gone overboard on. I tend to be pragmatic in this area. I do use pastes and at this point on leather is my preference. I haven't experimented a lot with different types because I'm satisfied with the results I'm getting. Crox, diamond and T.I. white paste are what I've been using. I would agree that some of these on canvas tend to be harsh. I never use paste after honing just for touch ups down the road. As of right now, T.I. white is my favorite on leather. I like the feel of this edge on my face.
I'm still really new at this. But I've tried CrOx on a homemade denim strop and got decent results. I think I prefer the edge off my Chinese 12K though. It feels a little crisper I guess?
The only pasted strop I've ever felt the need for is FeOx on the back of the linen and I rarely use it. It seems that most use pasted strops to either A. Get around having to actually either hone their razor themselves because they just haven't learned and perfected the technique or don't want to pay to have it honed. Or B. They're trying to get around the fact that you're going to have to spend not only money but time also in learning how to hone. I'm not saying there isn't a need for them because what it boils down to is preference and they certainly will keep an edge keen. I just always looked at it as taking the easy way out, using pasted strops, plus I like my strops to remain unfettered and clean.
Those aren't the only reasons. There are those of us who travel lots with straights and a pasted strop is no additional weight for luggage. . I would never bring a 13k or barber home with me on an exercise but have no qualms about a pasted strop to keep the edge fresh during 2 months in the bush.
There is an entire world of straight razor users that think that Hones/Stones are way overused and influenced by the Americans on SRP and that the best shaving edges are attained by the judicious use of Loom Strops and pastes to hold and maintain a convex edge.. They believe that the only reason to go back to a stone is to reset a damaged bevel... One should do some reading and searching on the EU straight razor forums and learn that there are different ways of thinking.. From post number 1
Yes, I've visited the german razor forum and noticed that some do hold that belief and blame shilling on the American forums for the great interest and use of hones. Can't say I disagree with them on that point at all. I just would rather use my hones to refresh or fix an edge than a pasted strop. But maybe I should start using a pasted strop because that seems to be the way to keep your edge now!
Well neo, like I said at the end of my post, I'm not saying there isn't a need/use for them because what it boils down to is preference as they certainly will keep an edge keen.
I have used Crox, diamond and T.I paste. The one I personally like the best is the 0.25 Bio Diamond from France that comes in a small tube with a drop dispenser. It's all I use these days (on a roughed leather paddle strop). There is indeed a tendency to use more pastes here in the European country's, a lot has to do with not having to invest in stones I often hear on the (Dutch, French and German) forums, those who have stones mostly prefer to touch up on them.
I am too inexperienced to have any history. So I am at the mercy of excellent posts like this. So now I am thoroughly confused. Please keep those letters coming. Eventually something will sift into my brain and I will get the edge of all edges. I hope. Mickey
It's unfortunately trial and error. Chromium Oxide is a very smooth paste that is fantastic for both after honing, or refreshing edges. Diamond provides a sharper edge, however SOME users find it more harsh than Chromium Oxide; the downside is once you paste a strop you're basically stuck with that and there's no real way to clean it and go back to something else. Personally I recommend people try CrOx first to see how they like that, and if its still not sharp enough to move to diamond. There are of course other pastes available but those are the two most (rightfully) popular ones. Also I should caution you, you can find green blocks of ChromiumOxide at hardware stores for tools. DO NOT USE THIS ON A RAZOR EDGE. They're designed for tools and as such the particle variance can be huge and end up making your blade worse, than better. Find either Thiers Issard Chromium Oxide Paste, or something from StraightRazorDesigns where they are guaranteed to be quality for razors.
As a matter of routine, I now use a pasted bench strop (with ChromOx from SRD) following the honing of any razor. Just 5 to 7 easy laps before the razor goes to the linen & leather strop. Maybe someday I'll experiment with diamond pastes and sprays, but right now my plate is full enough.
as soon as no buy July is over I'm gonna get a bench strop( only one of my hands work). should I start out using cro/ox, or should I use the strop clean?
If it is your only strop, then keep it clean. You'll find it so much easier to do all you pre-shave stropping on a bench strop when limited to one-hand. For me right now, the two-handed stropping process is a painful one, but since I've already pasted my only bench strop, I'm compelled to use the hanging strops for everything else.
thanks, I'll keep it clean. can't wait to get into that. Gonna be bugging you with questions, be prepared.
I had to learn the hard way about those polishing compound crayons. Gotta order a new replacement webbing from SRD. I'm in no rush though since I recently acquired a Naniwa 12k stone.
