Originally Posted by
Euclid440
You can experiment with a variety of paste and many, me included have, with varying success.
But where razors differ from knives in honing and pasting is the edge. With a razor you want a perfectly straight, keen edge that will give a smooth shave. Dead meat and vegy’s don’t complain when a chipped edge tears into it.
A razor edge is about keen… and smooth.
Polishing paste designed for quick polishing usually have a number of ingredients and of different size grits to polish different types of steel quickly, the more quickly the more agressive.
Pastes used for razors are mostly single compounds of consistant grit size, Chrome, Cerium and Ferrous Oxides, Diamond and CBN are the most common, but of the highest purity for razor use.
Dennim is ok as a substrate for a paste, but it frays easily and quickly, sewing a seam presents other problems for stropping. Canvas is a better option, or a piece of foam core board, if price is an issue or to experiment.
Folks have maintained razors for hundreds of years with just a leather and or linen strop, but it will most probably take several hundred laps depending on the strop and the stropper, it can be done and done well.
The stropping substrate, grit size of paste, pressure and edge finish will all impact the results. Much has been experimented and written about paste here and other forums, interesting reading.
Plain leather and Chrome Oxide are a good starting point for a new shaver with a new razor, or send it out. There is much more to it, than honing a knife on a Washita or sandpaper but it is all doable and can be learned, we all did. Go slow and first, do no harm.
Good Luck, enjoy and welcome to the forum.