Thread: keeping it keen

I know I have a while to go before I'll need to hone my razor, but I want to be ready when I do. I found this 4 sided strop which seems to have a honing stone and pasted strops all in one.

My question is: Would this be enough to keep my already shaving sharp razor shaveable indefinitely?

Jemico Solingen 4 Sided Professional Barbers Strop includes Strop Paste J45

it probably will be, but i would pick something else.
that arkansas stone may work with some effort, but most people who have tried them seem to think they're pretty much a waste of time.

i would prefer barber hones 2 sided ones.
cheaper and easiest option. just my 2 cent.

Thanks for the warnings. Just thought I may have found an all-in-one shortcut instead of having to split up the pasted strops and stones...tho from the advice I got in my intro thread I may be able to get by with just a 12k Naniwa stone and the canvas/leather strop I already have.

I'm not looking to do anything more than touch up already shave ready razors (at least not now), so I'm trying to find the minimum for doing that pretty much indefinitely before I start shelling out $$ for coarser stones.

I got some 0.5m Chrome Oxide powder from ChrisL for $4 and bought a block of balsa wood to make a paddle strop for under $10. When my str8s start to tug a bit, I give them 10 laps on the chrome ox and they are good as new. Eventually, the chrome ox will no longer bring the edge back, then you need a barber hone or a 12k hone. I bought a Chinese 12k for the purpose; it's slow but it's cheap and does a great job.

I'm on month five and still wicked sharp and nailing every test. Two sided strop up until six weeks ago +/- when I bought a no name barbers hone off ebay. DO NOT under estimate your strop.
Yes, I have been fighting a serious HAD issue but so far so good. (Its So hard!)

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i would prefer barber hones 2 sided ones.
cheaper and easiest option. just my 2 cent.

Absolutely the best advice yet.

I have to find barber hones used tho right?

Camps seem to be divided on their usefulness....the more I read the more confusing it gets.

If I go to the hones forums, I can find info suggesting pasted strops are completely unnecessary.

In the strop section, the right paddle strops are just as good as a finishing hone for anything but setting a bevel.

*sigh* ...thanks for all the helpful advice tho, I do appreciate the input.

I'll probably end up with a small arsenal of honing/stropping equipment before this is all said and done.

Eventually a pasted strop will round out the bevel (IMO) causing the razor to need honing more frequently. I will use a pasted strop to bring out the best in an edge, once that is accomplished, the pasted strop is no longer necessary. Good stropping will maintain the edge until a barber hone is needed, I may use the pasted strop after using the barber hone. IMO there may be a lot of people using pasted strops unnecessarily or to cover up poor technique, or just for the fun of it. Now if youll excuse me Im going to run and hide before the stone throwing begins.

I believe it was Mr. nun2sharp that gave me that piece of advice about four months ago. I easily put in 40hrs on hone research, strop research, SRP, B&B, you name it. Had my shopping cart full of things but just could'nt pull the trigger.
So here I am with a stupid little 2"x4" no-name hone, a skinny little strop I almost sent back (but I nicked it), and a razor that I would say is sharper now then when I got it (If Lynn had'nt of honed it). Plus $300 extra dollars in my pocket. Some great guys have your back here.
If your a over-thinker, don't. You'll be surprised...