Thread: Stropping only on pasted strops

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Interesting that you say that, Kees. I have a Super Gnome that I believe is made from the new TI steel. I've honed it to shaving sharp using stones then finishing on diamond and chrome ox for the higher grits. This razor has had numerous test shaves and the edge is still not to my liking. It seems to be a very hard steel. I continue to work with it.......

According to the same manual you are supposed to apply some pressure on the strop. It is mentioned specifically, as opposed to honing with a stone.

Something that I just posted else where too...

Half of you believe that pastes Round/Convex the bevel the other half swear that pastes create a weak edge that fails quickly.... This is counter intuitive guys unless the edge is this nano sized piece of foil steel at the end of the round bevel?????

Here is a post where mparker762 having experimented with pastes extensively on various surfaces found that paste by itself will not degrade the edge if it is applied and used properly.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Here is a post where mparker762 having experimented with pastes extensively on various surfaces found that paste by itself will not degrade the edge if it is applied and used properly.

Bingo there is the catch phrase,,,That was the one we are looking for, the worst thing is a pasted strop in the wrong hands.....

"need" is a bad word that needlessly confuses things more often than not. You also don't "need" hones if you have the appropriate pastes- they both work.

I have not noticed a need to hone a blade often that was stropped properly. As we know, honing cuts the blade, too much or too often will shorten the life of a blade.

Well, not at first. What I'm suggesting is that if you use pasted balsa, for example, instead of bare leather every day, you shouldn't have to go to the hone for a real long time, and you'll always have 'fresh' edges.

I personally think the use of pastes for honing at anything other than a very fine polishing stage is a relatively new phenomena.

I'm not talking about replacing coarse hones with coarse pastes, just more frequent touch ups so that you don't have to go so coarse.

I maintain my knives with a pasted strop, and only have to go back to stones if I get so much use in one session that it dulls them past what a strop can quickly fix.

Sounds to me like you are going with the old saying of "It is much easier to keep an edge sharp, then to sharpen an edge"....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

the worst thing is a pasted strop in the wrong hands.....

Well said. I can't recall where exactly I read some vintage razor instruction, maybe nassrasur, but there was mention that pastes (which of course were used "back in the day") were recommended only for experienced barbers to use whereas hones were for everyone, but most importantly for inexperienced barbers.

Chris L

Originally Posted by jimmyh

Well, not at first. What I'm suggesting is that if you use pasted balsa, for example, instead of bare leather every day, you shouldn't have to go to the hone for a real long time, and you'll always have 'fresh' edges.

I would be wary of it being too much of a good thing. Untreated linen/leather will maintain an edge while a daily dose of paste might lead to overhoning IMO.

I could see doing linen & leather and then when the edge began to feel a bit 'off' going to paste to refresh but not daily ... again... IMO. Whatever works for you is fine as long as it works.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Well said. I can't recall where exactly I read some vintage razor instruction, maybe nassrasur, but there was mention that pastes (which of course were used "back in the day") were recommended only for experienced barbers to use whereas hones were for everyone, but most importantly for inexperienced barbers.
Chris L

Part of the reason being that barbers were used to use hones in those days and using pasted strops was an entirely new technique. If you are experienced it is easier to learn a new technique.

I was thinking of just reducing the number of strokes so you don't over hone. Maybe just 2 passes per side or something.

Though maybe you really do want to do a bunch of passes on smooth leather and just touch up less than daily but still fairly frequently.

I shave much less often than every day (probably a couple dozen times this past year) so I don't have to worry so much about overhoning, and have to worry more about corrosion between shaves.