Strop confusion

Hello everyone:

I am enjoying my hobby of straight razor shaving and am constantly learning new things.

I would like your advise regarding using chromium oxide paste on a strop vs board. I currently use the paste on the back side of my cheaper leather strop. It seems to help smooth things out for me. My question is the more I read about this hobby the more confused I am getting. Some sites say NEVER use paste on a strop or you will ruin your edge and ONLY use a board. Other sites I read say it is fine. What do you think?

I started honing my razors right from the beginning, although I do have one razor that was professionally honed. I use this for reference with my own honing. I am quickly improving my honing skills as I have jumped into this hobby with both feet. I am now second guessing my honing skills as it appears everyone does thing so differently. (I.e. Lynn Abrams vs Mastro Livi). What advise would you give a newbie like me?

Thanks,

Aaron

I think since a strop has a bit of give, as opposed to the rigidity of a piece of balsa, or a board, some may feel that if the strop isn't held quite taut the edge may tend to become rounded by the paste. I've always used chrom-ox on a piece of hard felt on a board.

As for your honing skills, if it is working maybe don't fix it.

So, the question is, Chrome Oxide on hanging strop or a wooden board?

Does not matter, just watch the pressure.

The down side of pasting the back of your strop, is that you might contaminate your good leather or linen.

Hopefully you are using Razor Quality pure Chrome Oxide.

I use it on my strop and I don't have any problems. Also, I only use CO on a refresh, not every single time. Even then I only lap 5 to 7 times.

Would laying the strop (with the chromium oxide) down on a hard surface be a good compromise instead of using it like a normal strop?

This is one of those areas where everyone has their opinion and they vary widely. There is no know right or wrong answer here, except watch your pressure. There are people that use CrOx on their daily strop routine with no reported ill effect. I used cerium on my daily strop for a very very long time. I can;t imagine there is any left, but I do still use that strop, but have a new favorite. My CrOx pasted strop is a bench strop but I think it makes no difference. This subject is much like tape or how many passes is the right amount on your strop. If you have something that works, go for it.

I have Crox on a hanging felt strop. Like stated before, everyone has an opinion. Some think it ruins a razor, others that its the best thing since individually wrapped cheese slices. A piece of balsa is cheap. Try both ways and see what works for you. If it works for you that's all that matters.

For me, I never liked laying a strop flat on a counter and stropping, it is hard to hold the strop flat and you run the risk of cutting the strop.

A much better solution is a dedicated pasted strop.

A strip of Balsa works, but any wood or piece of cardboard works, cardboard is great if you just want to experiment.

You can buy a nylon or cotton web belt and paste it, or a strip of Nylon webbing from any craft store for a couple dollars a yard.

You ca strop on Razor Quality Chrome Oxide, daily with no ill effects to the edge, but you don’t need to.

When you do paste, less is more, three inch X’s is fine and will last many years. Do make sure to wipe you blade well to prevent from pasting your good leather and linen.