Thread: Hones and Strops. Difference??

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but I'm a bit confused about the diffrences between a Hone and a strop. Can someone please clarify this?

Simple answer,,, you always hone, with a hone,,,,,, you always strop, with a strop,,,

Originally Posted by Lozoman

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but I'm a bit confused about the diffrences between a Hone and a strop. Can someone please clarify this?

Honing is done on a stone, natural rock, or synthetic (man made). Each hone/stone has a grit from coarse to fine. The synthetics can be graded by grit because they are man produced powders mixed with resin or other binders. The powders are refined and classified to certain sizes.

Naturals are not easily classified to a specific grit if at all. They can be compared by results to a specific synthetic stone by an experienced honer, but each stone of the same name, i.e. Coticules, Jnats, etc can vary significantly between stones.

Hones remove metal to sharpen the razor. Coarse (more) and finer (less).

Strops are usually a fabric of some type and a leather component. Although a strop does and can remove some metal, it's minute, and although it can and does aide in the sharpness, it's primarily to clean (fabric) the edge after shaving and realign the finn of the edge. The leather further realigns and aides in sharpness.

Strop - Daily care of the razors edge after shaving, and refinement after a honing.

Hones/Stones - Maintenance and sharpening an edge that is sub par for shaving. An edge that has dulled from use, or damaged, or unused for years, etc. Any case that can't be repaired by stropping, but can be made shave ready by a hone/stone.

Regards,

Howard

You got the patience of a Saint, ,, Howard,,,,

The library is a great place to learn most anything to do with this hobby, as a new guy you really need to put in some time reading all you can and absorb a lot of advise the archives , the same when it comes to the actual shaving , you got to do some work ,

Are you already shaving with a straight? Because a strop is something you should already have spent time on,, good luck. Tc

Originally Posted by Hirlau

You got the patience of a Saint, ,, Howard,,,,

I wish!!

More a thought that went rogue!! I couldn't help myself!!

And, I had similar questions when I started.

,,,,,,,,,,,, no you didn't,,,,,

So should I use a Hone or a strope for my straight razor?

Originally Posted by Lozoman

So should I use a Hone or a strope for my straight razor?

Well, having never seen, and having no knowledge of what your razor is....I don't know.

Example? New, old, honed by a pro and shave ready, or an eBay special, or an antique store rescue, etc., etc..

We can help you with the correct info about your razor, but only if we know what you have and it's condition.

And, pics of the razor and it's edge, etc. are very helpful.

The gentlemen on this website will answer almost any question with courtesy, no matter how silly. But for the basics there is a large amount of information in the library. Is very enjoyable reading and you will have more knowledge and hence more questions when you come out the other side.