How many strops?

Hello all!

Sorry if this question has been asked before, but how many strops does one need?

For example, I have a hanging strop (about 3" wide), leather one side, linen the other. My Dovo straight has lost its edge, so I have ordered a Norton 4k/8k to bring it back (I also plan on using it to keep my wife's Henckel knives sharp).

About the Dovo - I had it honed at the local "old time" barbershop in Dublin, where they specialise in straight razor shaves. It worked well for a time, and the edge could somewhat be regained with stropping. However it now pulls and has rendered any straight shaving impossible.

Is my one strop enough, or should I invest in a 2 or 4 sided pasted strop?

Thanks!

Welcome to the SRP. Razors have to be honed after every 10-15 shaves (ballpark figure) but those are generally just light touchups. Pasted paddle strops are good for that but you can also do it with a Norton and/or a fine finishing hone. The hanging strop just aligns the edge, doesn't sharpen it as it doesn't remove any metal.

Short answer: Get a 4-sided paddle strop (with the apropriate pastes) if you can't seem to get the hang of honing.

I would also recommend a four sided paddle strop. Tony Miller sells them at http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/ I would highly recommend his strops they are terrific. The four sided stris really nice for touchups.

I have both a hanging and a paddle strop (pasted). I use the hanging strop daily and the paddle strop to touch things up or to take with me when I am away from home.

-- Gary F.

I've got a 3" haning strop for daily use, a 2 sided pasted paddle (1 and 0.5 micron)for a tickle up and a Jap 6000 waterstone. That's all I need to keep mine sharp enough.

I do use 1500 grit wet and dry sometimes to restore an old edge before using the waterstone. I just cut a strip and lay it on the stone.

Gary

Depends on your personality and what works for you.

Mostly, one hanging strop for daily stropping.

If your razor looses it's edge faster than you like then add a pasted strop if you're not comfortable doing touch up hones.

If you like different types of strops or like a change of pace get a few different types.

One strop should be all you need for daily stropping. Can't hurt to have more though... errr, actually, it hurts the wallet :p

I have both a Norton 4k/8k and a pasted paddle strop (with 3µ, 1µ, 0.5µ, 0.25µ pastes) from Tony Miller, but I find the paddle strop much more convenient for refreshing a blade when it isn't performing up to par. The Norton (4k side) requires some soaking, so, it takes longer; and, being a water stone, is on the messy side compared to the paddle strop. Additionally, since my paddle has 0.5µ and 0.25µ pastes, I find that I can get a keener edge off of it than the norton.

Nothing wrong with using a norton to keep your wife's henckel's knives sharp. I personaly finish my kitchens knives on a 1000grit stone, maybe/occasionaly the 4000. I personaly find that it feels better when the knives have a bit more of that bite than when I finish them with the high grits. I do however use the higher grits on filet knives. Just my 2cents on that matter.

ToxIk,

Agree with you 100% I have pretty much what you have plus a 12k stone. I love the pasted paddle strop the best though.:cool:

what do you mean by soaking? i thought you could just put water on it and go to town.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyrano138

what do you mean by soaking? i thought you could just put water on it and go to town.

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The water stones need to be soaked at least 10 min. before using them.