Thread: Shapton 16k VS Strop w/.05

If you thought it would get you where you want to be there is no reason why not. I have read that the edge may not last as long before it needs to be touched up again if paste is used too much but I haven't used it enough to know first hand.

I always come of the hone and strop with linen and then leather. Then I shave. I do a first pass and if it is satisfactory I don't use paste at all. If the first pass isn't cutting it (no pun intended) I rinse, lather up again and then do 10 laps with 1.0 diamond paste and follow with another 10 laps with chrom ox to smooth it out a little. Then I do my second pass.

A lot of guys finish with paste after honing. No rules against it. I just want to see how sharp I can get it without it. When I get to the point where I can consistently get sharp enough to suit me off of the hones by themselves I may start finishing with paste to get even sharper but I am not there yet. So that is just me.