Thread: Do you use synthetics but are opposed to pastes?

In an attempt to bring this back on topic thank you to everyone for your opinions on why a person may use a synthetic but be opposed to pastes. There were some great points in my opinion about the mess and number of objects to keep track of even if they are small points. To reiterate I can understand that someone may prefer a stone to a paste for personal reasons and not because one is better than the other and the idea that the substrates are different is definately something to keep in mind. All are attempts to explain certain biases that you experience within the honing community and although none of them by themselves are convincing maybe as a whole it makes a bit more sense to me. Although as was posted above I too wonder if someone who finished on a 20k synthetic and stropped could tell the difference of the edge as opposed to someone who finished on a paste and strops instead. So in the end the one that makes the most sense to me is a combination of all the above.

The idea that it is somehow "cheating" by finishing on a pasted "whatever" instead of a synthetic hone is still foriegn and seems a bit of a "double standard" to me but when someone says hey I just prefer the edge off this or that stone or I have no other reason than preference. Interestingly, I can understand that rationale better.

Like you Steel I never understood the logic behind the use of pastes being "cheating". Another means to an end.

There is no cheating there is only success or failure. Use any system or combo of systems out there to get what your looking for. If you enjoy the shave you succeeded. I don't see why folks are bothered by this whole thing really. Find and edge you can produce reliably for yourself and enjoy it.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Having said this, I wonder whether one can truly notice a difference between a razor that is finished up to around an 8k-10k level followed by a pasted strop vs a razor that has been honed on a 7 hone progression to 30k, 50k or whatever the new Olympic record is.

I can tell the difference.
You should try for yourself & form your own conclusion but of course you'll have to buy that expensive 50k to do the testing.

I use both, but a pasted strop is much quicker for a touch up than bringing out the hones! I also use paste as a finisher after my 12k naniwa, it seems to result in a keener edge.

Pastes and sprays are fine if the types of edges those give like your skin. The only really compelling one to me is cerium oxide, but that isn't a touch up medium as much as it's a way to tweak edges to a smooth bias

So, pastes and slurry are different animals, some natural slurry’s are frangible and will continue to break down to sub-micron levels. If slurry is not frangible it is a wash and will polish the bevel but dull the edge, or in low grits amplifies the aggression at the cost of the edge, which in low grits does not matter that much.

Natural, frangible slurry’s like Japanese hones and Naugras, off set that edge forward damage by breaking down to nano grit levels. It would be interesting to see just how small they can actually break down.

One of the benefits of a pasted strop is the convex bevel it produces, a stronger edge, not just polishing for keenness or comfort. Using paste on a hone with an edge trailing stroke will not impact the edge, but also will not convex the bevel. So there is no benefit other than to polish the bevel and that can be accomplished many way and arguably better with a pasted strop or nano grit film.

Granted, these differences at nano grits are so minor as to almost be inconsequential and truly a matter of personal preference.

A lot depends on the condition of the bevel at the time of paste introduction, (hard to paste out a chip). The largest benefit of paste is the ability to tailor an edge, either for keenness or comfort. There are only a few stones that can polish for comfort.

I use paste often to maintain and refresh an edge, can’t beat diamonds and CBN to add keenness quickly, (CBN will calm a diamond edge as even CBN (.10) can add too much keenness. Ironically plain leather is the moderator, I use to tailor the edge.
I have been using a SG20K for almost a year now, and it is a good stone, but not the Jnat killer, ultimate stone it was touted to be. I find myself going to paste or film more often, in place of the 20k.

I use synthetics to hone and finish on naturals, film or paste.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I have been using a SG20K for almost a year now, and it is a good stone, but not the Jnat killer, ultimate stone it was touted to be. I find myself going to paste or film more often, in place of the 20k.

Comparing the edge produced by a Jnat finisher or the 20k is a pretty subjective thing. It will however kill any Jnat for speed in finishing . With that said, either can "touch up" a razor with a handful of strokes but that's not finishing

I find them all synthetic, natural or paste/spray all to be a finishing point. The only reason I stopped using pastes at the end oh honing was to find what the razor felt like finished off the stones and not pastes. Still use pastes periodically for touching up between honing

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

I use both, but a pasted strop is much quicker for a touch up than bringing out the hones! I also use paste as a finisher after my 12k naniwa, it seems to result in a keener edge.

Well no need for my reply...
Took the words right outta my mouth Ernie1980
I will say this...
Magnification is very important to me. I check eaven after stropping.
More than once I've found micro chips or other unpleasantries.