Thread: Keeping the razor sharp....

Originally Posted by RazorBack

1.: with a strap, you'll also need paste or sprays. This is for (periodical) maintenance??
2.: When a sharpeningstone is mentioned, does the (for instance) "12k" stands for "12000 grit"??

1. For day to day use you need a standard strop. These usually have a cloth element and a leather element. No pastes, sprays or other additives needed. The abrasives are only applied to a dedicated surface like a felt hanging strop, a paddle strop or even the back of your main strop. The comments about these items apply only to your question about keeping your edge sharp over time, not to every day use. Glen posted an interesting thread here about keeping your edge usable with a pasted strop. Perhaps a bit more than you want to know right now, but it illustrates an important point.

2. Yes. 4k, 8k, 12 k refer to 4000, 8000 and 12000 grit, respectively.