Thread: Strop versus Hone

Hi,
I am shaving with only one razor and do not have the intentions of restoring or doing any major work on them at this time. As such, should I sharpen the razor (as needed) with strops and diamond paste or go the route of multiple hones/hone flattening equipment? I understand that it is not necessary to hone very often, just every couple months or as needed. Which route is easier for a rookie? Which is cheaper? Which gets a sharper whisker weapon? Thank you.

-Sean

You can go either way.

A pasted strop, if used correctly, will maintain the edge nicely for years.

A barber hone, if used correctly, will also maintain the edge nicely for years.

I use the barber hone method, but have also done the pasted strop, and find I like the barber hone a *little* bit more because it is easier.

I just put a smidge of lather on the barber hone, and give the razor a dozen strokes, and then strop it up, and it's good as new. Rinse off the hone and put it away--no muss, no fuss, and no need to maintain a pasted strop.


Neither of these will work if you damage your edge.

WOW one razor you definitely have not caught RAD, But I would agree with Toolarts above.... Get a nice barbers hone and a quality strop (TM is the way to go) and enjoy a nice sharp edge for many years, this is the way most of the old timers did it..... It worked for them

Except for the ol' timers who used pasted strops.

I'm also a barber hone user but this is the more skill intensive way to go. It took me a while before I could improve the edge of my razors with the barbers hone. I now wish I had started with a pasted strop. By now I'd probably also have a barbers hone but I would also have the pased strop for both backup and travel.

So what is the difference between a barber hone and one of those norton double sidded things (4000/8000 I belive)? Do you have to go through some flattening process or are they "hone ready". Where can you get them? Thanks for all the help.

The barber hones are made for touching up razors. They are harder and finer.

They come up on Ebay all the time. Just look for them.

The Swaty is probably the more expensive of the lot. I just picked one up for $20.00, but I have seen them go for $60.

I also have a Dixie stone that I got for $12 (I think), which is actually the one I use. I love this Dixie stone, though I never hear of them on this forum (but I haven't asked...maybe I will).

Good luck.

I'm not sure I totally agree that the pasted strop is easier. It is easy to use too much pressure with a pasted strop and create a beautifully polished useless edge. However, If you can restrain yourself from excessive pressure, they work great.

The hone requires some practice and proper technique. One slip and you can damage the edge.

Paul

I love my three line Swaty. Got it at a flea market for $5.00. Have also acquired a fine grit no name stone, a two line Swaty, and a barber hone I can not make out the name, but the stone is grey, for fairly cheap.

Be careful with the barber hone idea. There are many of them that are not worth spit. I have a paper grocery bag of barber hones and they are not all suitable for razor touch ups.
If you insist on a barbers hone then get a 3 line Swaty (3 lines of stamping on the hone), Apart,Craftsman, Dubl Duck,Frictionite 00, to name a few that are suitable.

By far the easiest way is the abrasive pasted paddle strop, not a pasted hanging strop, pasted with 1.0 micron and 0.5 micron abrasive pastes.

Hope this helps,

If I had to start over from scratch with one or two razors I would get them honed by one of our experts and buy a 4 sided paddle strop with pastes. I would still have a hanging strop with plain horsehide. This would be fairly cheap and keep the razors sharp for a long time. If I decided to get some Ebay specials or razors from an antique store it would be time for hones to be able to get a good bevel before going to the pasted paddle strop.

bj

Thank you for all the advice. It is starting to make a lot more sense. I am thinking that the route that I will take is to get an extra wide paddle strop and 1.0 and .5 micron diamond paste. Should that be enough to keep a sharp edge so long as I do not do something wrong? Do you have to treat paddle stops first or can you just put the paste on it right when it comes? Do the pastes come with instructions? This site is more helpfull than I can even tell you. Everyone here sure helps the learning curve. Thank you.

-Sean