Paste time?

[ShavedZombie]

So, I'll try to keep this one short. My first real straight, a DOVO 5/8ths Best Quality (full hollow) has, in my -very beginner-ish- opinion entered the phase of it's life where it is time for it's first Pasting (if not a trip to a Barber's hone [I have my eye on a Naniwa 12k in the not too distant future])

I've had this razor for a month or two, and about a month into owning it (shaving 1-2 times a week) I got a 6/8ths Gold Dollar (208) Honed by Lynn (Great guy!) Well, since then I've alternated between the Dovo and the GD, again, shaving 1-2 times per week. I think that between the first month of active duty, and the second month of rotating duty, my Best Quality has gotten to need some pasting.

It still shaves adequately, but not as well as the GD (this may be due to the GD being heavier, I have found I like it heavy) Since there is only a small amount of tugging, and it has never been pasted before, I'm thinking it's time for a trip to a Nylon loaded with Crox crayon. 10 laps, check, 10 laps, check, ad shaveum.

The reason I suspect that it needs pasting is -don't judge me- the HHT. It and the Gold Dollar would always pass the HHT for the full length of the blade after a trip on my TM Nylon-Latigo-Horsehide, or a good run on the SRD Bridle... Now, the GD still passes fully after either, but the DOVO only passes at the heel of the blade (closest to tang... That's the heel right? The tip is the Toe?) EG: The part that gets the lightest use.

So, Guess I failed at keeping that short...

Whaddaya think? Crox time, or do I need to look into the Naniwas (which will happen once I have the money for it, anyways)

Thanks guys.

[Ookla]

I would try giving it 50 on your cloth component, 50 on leather and see where you are. If it still seems a bit off, try 10 on chromeox. See where you are after that. I keep my trips to the pastes short and fairly infrequent.

It sounds like you have under a dozen shaves on the blade. I typically wont visit the pastes that soon, but all beards are not created equal. Do yourself a favor and talk to Glen(GsSixgun) about a barber hone. 3 or 4 laps on a good barber hone every couple of months will keep you sharp for a good long time.

As for the HHT, try a chest hair. It's a lot closer to what grows on your head than a hair from your head.

[janivar123]

yeah i guess you should start pasting soon
i seem to remember that nylon wasnt werry good for pastes tho(someone correct me)
you did hear testing after werry few laps right? i think it was 5

[ChrisL]

It's easy and even fun to use the HHT as a diagnostic tool for sharpness. However, it's been said many times before and I agree, the only sure test is the shave test. The HHT can deceive. In making any judgement call I would put all your questioning into the results of the shave tests at this stage.

It sounds like you have, given that you say the razor is starting to tug when it shaved well before that.

There are MANY ways to skin the razor cat. Taking a few passes on a high grit polishing stone or a barber hone works for and is preferred by many. However, many others, myself included and even some honemeisters go to pastes to finish a razor or refresh. I think it would be impossible for me to stick to such an experiment, but I believe one could keep a well honed razor shaving for years, decades by simply refreshing the edge using chrome ox, etc. I have high grit polishing stones within easy grasp, even a narrow Chinese 12k in a bucket of water in my laundry tub ready to go most of the time. However, I always go for a chrome ox pasted balsa paddle for approx 20 passes when I need to tune up an edge. It works every time for me and the edges are comfortable.

Chris L

[ShavedZombie]

Ookla, I tried 50/50/50 nylon, latigo, horse. I also tried 50/50 Webbed fabric, and Bridle. Still feeling a little tuggy, and not doing well on HHT... And I know that's not the best measure, but I've shaved recently, so I can't do much more... I just know this one tugged when I used it last.

Also to Ookla, I, unfortunately, do not have a barber hone/high grit finishing stone yet... But that is on my list... And what a long list it has become...

I guess I'll give it a few quick licks on the crox sometime soon, and see if that does the job... if not, guess I need to prioritize a Naniwa 12k superstone at the top of my list.

Sound good?

[Ookla]

It's a fresh edge. I would give it 10 on chomeox, test, and repeat as necessary.

Don't get me wrong, I like paste and sprays as much as the next guy. I have just developed a "little as is necessary" approach to tweaking an edge.

[ShavedZombie]

I understand the value of avoiding them... I just felt -again, in my limited experience- that this one needed a refresher... and I don't have the scratch for a Naniwa just yet... My seasonal employment just ended, so I'm searching for the next paycheck.

Oh, and Janivar: "i seem to remember that nylon wasnt werry good for pastes tho(someone correct me)"

I don't know where you heard this, and I can't finitely correct you, as I have yet to try, but I have it from Lynn, himself, that Crox crayon + SRD Webbed fabric = good. He's the one who gave me a tutorial of what little I know, and gave me the crox crayon (and hands on time with his bridle, prompting me to buy one, theyre just so nice).

I generally look at it as, If he said it works, it works.

I'll get back to you once I've tested it, though. Just in case

[ShavedZombie]

Alright, Since my pasting nylon is in the mail, and I have a spare cotton, and I'm impatient, and it is 12:30 am -which means, even though I have class at 8, I am still awake- I decided to paste the cotton... Pasted it, gave the razor 10 laps, then 50 on my webbed fabric, and 50 on my bridle, now the HHT passes all but section 2 of my blade (I do the HHT in 5 parts, with the heel being 1, and the middle being 3, the toe being 5)

10 more laps, then another stropping (this time latigo) I'll report back soon

[ShavedZombie]

Good news, gents, all 5 sections pass. It was, indeed, pasting time.

Thanks for the quick responses.

I'm looking forwards to shaving with this soon. Feels better on the TPT -but, again, my thumbs are calloused, so.. who knows