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