Thread: How long between honings with a Pasted Strop?

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

How do you guys do with the boron and chromium oxide pastes as far as longevity?

Probably about the same. I've never had to replace mine, but I don't have the number of razors you do. But I got my CO paddle back in April and have used it as the final honing step on all my razors in my newbie acquisition rush since then, and for refreshing as well, and it's still going strong. I recently made a new CO paddle, but that was because I wanted CO on a fairly hard wood instead of leather. The old one has been black for a long time and still going strong.

As for the BC, it's black when new :-)

Originally Posted by moses

Also, if for any reason one wanted to change the paste used on a paddle strop, is that possible?

You can change abrasives - this is one of the nice things about the paddle strop, not only is it inexpensive to get, but it's inexpensive to experiment with new abrasives.

For leather-covered strops, you just need to wash off the old abrasive with saddle soap, Joe Lerch mentioned goop and that probably works just as well if you can't get saddle soap. If you're switching from a coarse to a fine abrasive you'll want to wash it several times to make really sure you've got the old stuff out. I switched one side of my tony miller wide paddle from 3 micron diamond to .5 micron diamond without incident.

For wood-faced strops I'm not sure that you can wash the abrasives out without swelling the wood and causing problems. I would suspect that the best way to switch would be to lap the wood on a lapping plate with some dry 600+ grit sandpaper until the old grit was gone.

Originally Posted by dylandog

!!!!

You're saying you can get 365 or more shaves between honings?

Yes! I've found that once I've set up the razor edge with the hone initially, I only need to strop the razor to keep it shaving sharp. I rarely go back to the hone if ever. And I've never used a pasted strop. The problem with it is my honing technique tends to get very rusty!

This is for real? And you've gone through puberty and everything?

You ought to be selling dvd's explaining that technique of yours.

So what happens, somewhere between 365 and 400 shaves it starts to pull?

If the razor did start to pull, and stropping didn't cure it, then of course I'd re-hone. But that hasn't happened as long as I can remember.

As far as going through "puberty", isn't that somewhere in New Mexico? I think I've been through there...once.....long ago.....

Why'd you ask, you from there?

Originally Posted by honedright

Why'd you ask, you from there?

I got waylaid there for a spell in my teens. Didn't stay long, but it left a big impression. Funny thing – at the time all I could think about was getting out. Now I wouldn't mind going back a while, visit the old haunts.

Originally Posted by dylandog

I got waylaid there for a spell in my teens. Didn't stay long, but it left a big impression...

Yes, as I remember, it was a hair-raising experience for me...

No plans on going back though.