newbie gear strop question

Hey all, I posted over at Badger and Blade, but I wanted to see what y'all think. I'm getting ready to buy my gear and take the leap, but I was wondering if I could get some feedback on my shopping list.

I'm planning to buy:
-DMT E-Extra Fine (3 micron) diamond plate
-DOVO Classic Special or TI Super Gnome (still deciding)

What I need to know is:
If I get a linen/leather strop, will some .5 Green Chromium Oxide paste on the linen bridge between the DMT and the plain leather strop? Or do you shaving shamans know what would be a good bridge between the DMT and the plain leather strop that's cheap?

I have a pretty hard $200 ceiling on this. I understand that my mileage will vary, but I'm looking for general guidelines here.

I'd forego the paste for now. Just try the stone and strop.

Hi Alex, welcome to the group.

I know many of the "paste" guys will chime in here, but I've been able to manage very well for some 28 years, or so, without using abrassive pastes. Many seem to prefer them so I'm sure they have a place. I just never got into using them.

I go from a "Little Devil" barber's hone (no longer made, but still available if you look. Even so, some guys consider this hone to be too coarse to use as an only hone, but then again, seems to work just fine for me) from that hone I go directly to a plain leather strop and usually the linen strop as well. Anyways, I get very smooth comfortable shaves.

If you are really trying to save bucks, or if you have a minimalist spark like I do, you might consider foregoing the pastes. Otherwise, you will likely get tons of advice on using pastes from others here.

Good luck,

Scott

Awesome. Saving a few bucks will be nice. I just wanted to make sure I didn't need anything else to get from the DMT plate to shave-ready other than the strop.

Thanks a lot.

At first you'll probably have some difficulty. After you get better at it, you'll be fine. In the long run you'll want the linen.

If you feel the need for the .5, I would just buy a piece of balsa wood and use that for a bit and later get a paddle strop if your so inclined.

Keeping the linen clean would be my preference.

Yes, I didn't mention it, but as Alan mentions, going without the pastes may make your learning curve a little steeper. But at the end of the day, I think you will be much better off.

I've found that in many industries there is a "fast" way involving some form of technology (in this case pastes?) to save time and labor. And then there is an "old fashioned" method that requires a much more intimate knowledge and feel for the involved process (in this case using just a hone and strop).

Usually apprentices, which you could proudly consider yourself at this stage, are required to learn the "old fashioned" method first before being allowed to use the faster method. I think this is how one truly masters an art.


Scott

FWIW, I would personally re asses the listed selections you posted if you have a hard spending limit of $200. Maybe drop down a little in razor- from the new to a shave ready used one in the BST- could reduce the razor costs by half. I would consider the Dovo over the TI based on prices at Classic if you wanted to stay with new, tho I don't think you could go wrong with either of your listed options in blade.

I would also pass on the DMT plate and go for a Norton 4/8 instead or a straight Coiticle (?). I don't think the diamond will give a smooth edge in comparison to the stones and the costs will pay dividends in the future. A Norton is going to run less then $70 and will be better suited to maintaining the blade over it's life or adding additional blades in the future that may need a little more work.
There is no need for pastes after a norton 8000 for most people. If you only want to maintain the edge it comes with a coiticle will be a straight finishing hone (it would be after the Norton 8, but if the edge is sharp to begin with that's all you need)

Talk to Howard at The Perfect Edge- he has the best prices on both stones I've seen and is a member here.

Oh, and I agree- don't paste the linen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by the wanderer

I'm planning to buy:
-DMT E-Extra Fine (3 micron) diamond plate
-DOVO Classic Special or TI Super Gnome (still deciding)

What I need to know is:
If I get a linen/leather strop, will some .5 Green Chromium Oxide paste on the linen bridge between the DMT and the plain leather strop? Or do you shaving shamans know what would be a good bridge between the DMT and the plain leather strop that's cheap?

I have a pretty hard $200 ceiling on this. I understand that my mileage will vary, but I'm looking for general guidelines here.

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I would also skip the pasting the linen you will want it plain. I would get a used shave ready razor as opposed to new. Get a Norton as opposed to the DMT plate. These changes bring this part of your kit to right around a hundred bucks. These changes also give you an easier to use kit. The Norton is a simpler stone to master than the DMT and you won't be paying extra to have a razor you know will shave you well.

I don't know what strop you were planing on but any of the ones from The well Shaved Gentleman will serve you well and is a great investment.