I get my razor VERY sharp and don't have to worry about taking off to much metal with my trusty barber hone. My tony Miller strop hangs from a carabiner on a towel rack, but any door knob will do. I also spent $2 on a 2" wide piece of balsa from the hobbie shop, sanded it flat and pasted it up with the chrome oxide I got from Chris L. That's my "paddle" :gl: