Polishing stone and/or pasted strop

I've been "reading the mail" on you guys for a few days and this forum is great. My first post after having registered today.

I've recently begun to try to shape up my Dubl Duck Gold Edge that I laid down about 30 years ago and haven't picked up since. I've managed to clean up the edge pretty well with my Norton 4k/8k but I want to use something a little finer before hitting the strop. I've read the honing forums and was overwelmed by the choices of polishing stones and strop pastes available.

While I expect to add to my collection of stones in the near future, I am curious as to what the forum would recommend if I were to only have one stone/strop paste between the 8k and the leather.

Thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by lawman2

I am curious as to what the forum would recommend if I were to only have one stone/strop paste between the 8k and the leather.

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My vote is for a coticule. It's reasonably priced and puts a nice, smooth edge after the 8K Norton.

I would say either the coticule or a vintage Escher if you can find one. You could go the pasted strop route with diamond pastes and CrO but eventually you would have to go back to a hone anyway.

I go to my Shapton 15k , after the 8k . After the 15k , I finish the edge on my Japanese Nakayama Asagi hone .

Welcome.
Definitely the coticule IMHO. i find it much easier to use than a pasted strop and the result is an excellent polished edge.
Information overload is definitely a risk here { as with all modern life }. There are myriad choices and people even go to the extreme lengths of 30K grit stones, etc. Just don't see/feel a difference between that and the progression i've been using. Easy to end uo with far more gear than you can really use. :( i use Norton 4/8K then finish on a coticule. After that, even a stropping before the first shave seems redundant. Simple stropping after that is good between shaves. Can't go paste a Tony Miller strop - as good as they get and great value for money.
Anyhoo - just my thoughts.
Adam.

I'm afraid that's an impossible question to answer.
I believe it all highly depends on a few very personal factors:
1. How tough is your beard?
Some beards need ultimate sharpness above all else. Other people's whiskers get severed a fair bit easier.

2. How sensitive is your skin?
Some people need a smooth edge above all else. Other people's skin can stand a more aggressive edge.

3. Personal shave style.
Some people scythe barely above their skin with an ultra-keen razor, while others like to bare down just a bit more, with a slightly steeper shaving angle. This induces different requirements for the type of razor and the type of edge.

4. Longevity of an edge.
Some people like ultra-sharp edges and don't mind paying that with more frequent honing. Other people like a decent edge that lasts a few months.

That said:
Coticules add superior smoothness to any edge.

The Shapton 16K gives an ultra-sharp edge, with some aggressiveness.

A strop with Chromium Oxide can add smoothness to an edge and, if you don't mind convexing the cutting bevel a bit, also additional keenness. The latter is a bit unpredictable, 'cause it depends on how well you can keep consistent flex and /or pressure on a strop, and it's nearly impossible to touch-up a once convexed edge without a fair amount of honing.

Nakayamas are reported by those how are able to afford one to be the "nec plus ultra" if you want the sharpness of a good Chromium Oxide edge, without the downsides.

I'm sure others will add more choices.
In the end you'll have to still find out for yourself.
I believe a Coticule would be the best starting point.

Best regards,
Bart.

Nice writeup there, Bart. Very thorough.

I would throw my vote in the hat for a yellow coticule. Howard at The Perfect Edge has a nice selection at reasonable prices.

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Originally Posted by netsurfr

Nice writeup there, Bart. Very thorough.

I would throw my vote in the hat for a yellow coticule. Howard at The Perfect Edge has a nice selection at reasonable prices.

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+1 to that. After the coticule I go to a 4-sided paddle strop with Dovo Red, Dovo Black, Chromium Oxide and 0.25 micron Diamond Paste. It's probably overkill but I'm in the tough-beard, ultra-sharp and smooth category and this progression gives me incredibly great shaves.