Thread: Strop Paste?

Hi All,
I'm about to order a Jemico DOVO German Razor Strop 13" and was wondering if I should order some strop paste as well? Does it really help matters any?

Thanks much,
Paulson

Originally Posted by thepaulson

Hi All,
I'm about to order a Jemico DOVO German Razor Strop 13" and was wondering if I should order some strop paste as well? Does it really help matters any?

Thanks much,
Paulson

Abrasive pastes no.
Perhaps strop dressing (leather conditioner).

Most folk reserve pasted strops for the last
steps in honing a razor. A very light application
of CrOx on the back of some strops is a common
thing to do with leather that has two sides, but
it is not necessary. Some do like a polishing
agent on the back of a strop.

It is important to remember that it is impossible
for all practical purposes to remove an abrasive
paste. There are many pastes on the market so
being specific is important.

+1. Dont paste your daily strop.

Something like Fromm strop dressing is fine, but dont get any abrasives. You dont need to use them that often and daily use will wear your edge away.

If you want a pasted strop for touch ups, then either get a second strop to use with the paste or you can make a homemade one:

Making a (very) home-made strop - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Making a linen strop out of denim - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Easily make a pasted balsa strop - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Any of these would be a very easy way to make a pasted strop! That way you can leave your daily strop unpasted, and then use the pasted one for touch ups.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Highly recommend a 4 sided separate strop to paste. CromOx 3.0, 1.0. and .50 on three sides.

Yes, it absolutely works and I consider it one of my most important purchases in maintaining my straight razors. It acts as a light honing and allows you to go a long time between stone honings. When the razor feels like its loosing its fine edge, a few passes on the pasted strop brings back to tip top shape again.

Nice advise above on making one. I bought mine from Tony Miller and he does great work.

Pabster

So, ok, wait... is the denim/linen strop is to be used in addition to, or in place of the leather one?

Originally Posted by thepaulson

So, ok, wait... is the denim/linen strop is to be used in addition to, or in place of the leather one?

Leather is used prior to shaving.
A quick visit to leather after shaving is optional.

Canvas is not strictly necessary, yet it seems to unfold crumpled
bits from a dull razor and make the blade "leather strop ready".
Some canvas is lightly abrasive and combines with oxidized
steel on the razor and acts as a very mild polishing agent.

Many shavers visit the canvas when leather does not
seem to refresh the edge after shaving or after a light
visit to a barber hone.

If you are looking at the Dovo red/black paste for ten bucks
you may as well have it handy for the BACK of the strop.
If you must, start with the finer black paste for polishing on the back
side of the strop. However I think that CrOx is finer and more people
use it... remember that you will not be able to remove it
once you apply it.

If you are going to hone razors a pasted strop is a good tool to have but for daily shaving it will eventually ruin the edge.