Thread: smooth vs sharp - how to

i have quality strops and i believe that my stropping technique is okay. i always see an improvement after stropping, never a step backward. i do not use any pastes or sprays though. stones - natural or synthetic - only. am i missing out here?

does anyone use multiple strops in a type of progression? i.e. english bridle > kangaroo > cordovan ? or just stick with one per 'session'?

my 12k is a naniwa ss so i think thats okay too. i think ill experiment with a couple light laps on the coticle or zulu grey.

thanks again for all the helpful advice everyone.

Originally Posted by sloanwinters

i have quality strops and i believe that my stropping technique is okay. i always see an improvement after stropping, never a step backward. i do not use any pastes or sprays though. stones - natural or synthetic - only. am i missing out here?

does anyone use multiple strops in a type of progression? i.e. english bridle > kangaroo > cordovan ? or just stick with one per 'session'?

my 12k is a naniwa ss so i think thats okay too. i think ill experiment with a couple light laps on the coticle or zulu grey.

I don't do strop progressions though I've known of guys that do. I have a few strops but just stick with one or another per session. With chrom-ox, about the only paste I use, and then only occasionally, I use it on wool felt, or leather, on a flatbed.

The naniwa 12k is a great hone. If you have honed a razor to shave ready, and it feels a bit harsh, a half dozen round trips on the chrom-ox, or on a coticule might be the ticket for a less 'crisp' feeling on the face. IME.

thanks again for all the helpful advice everyone.

I don't do strop progressions though I've known of guys that do. I have a few strops but just stick with one or another per session. With chrom-ox, about the only paste I use, and then only occasionally, I use it on wool felt, or leather, on a flatbed.

The naniwa 12k is a great hone. If you have honed a razor to shave ready, and it feels a bit harsh, a half dozen round trips on the chrom-ox, or on a coticule might be the ticket for a less 'crisp' feeling on the face. IME.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I don't do strop progressions though I've known of guys that do. I have a few strops but just stick with one or another per session. With chrom-ox, about the only paste I use, and then only occasionally, I use it on wool felt, or leather, on a flatbed.

The naniwa 12k is a great hone. If you have honed a razor to shave ready, and it feels a bit harsh, a half dozen round trips on the chrom-ox, or on a coticule might be the ticket for a less 'crisp' feeling on the face. IME.

This is interesting. It's the traditional advice that pastes result in a more harsh edge?

Originally Posted by gcbryan

This is interesting. It's the traditional advice that pastes result in a more harsh edge?

Nope a myth started by a certain Hone Pusher

Keep in mind you will find what Jimmy said to be true right up until 2 things occurred almost at the same time

1. A certain natural hone was pushed as being the most comfortable edge ever to touch a face

2. Somebody said "If you are not certain about what paste you like, use a Balsa wood strop to test it out first" next thing we know there are actually people selling Balsa strops and people are using them as a pasted strop..
Paste on Balsa works almost too well and the Pasted strop changed from a method of Mellowing the edge to more of a Refresh method..

Not really a bad thing as it adds more versatility to simple paste but the Mellowing aspect has obviously been lost to many of you newer guys

Originally Posted by gcbryan

This is interesting. It's the traditional advice that pastes result in a more harsh edge?

IME chrome-ox, unlike diamond paste for example, can smooth out, soften a harsh edge. Sometimes a coticule, escher, or other natural finisher can also take a high grit synthetic finished edge and bring it down a notch or two, and in that case smooth the harshness out. Variables with all this stuff, but that is my personal experience. Keep in mind that the coticule, and other naturals are unlike a synthetic. Like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. Some are great, some not so great. IME.

It's the traditional advice that DIAMOND pastes, MAY result in a more harsh edge?

I have used both diamond sprays and Crox and my face doesn't care for either. Harsh or too crisp was my experience, they both sucked the comfort right out of my Jnat edge. This is wholly subjective a, YMMV thing. At the end of the day it comes down to what works for you, give both a try and see how you like them.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by BadB

I have used both diamond sprays and Crox and my face doesn't care for either. Harsh or too crisp was my experience, they both sucked the comfort right out of my Jnat edge. This is wholly subjective a, YMMV thing. At the end of the day it comes down to what works for you, give both a try and see how you like them.

Good luck!

You may simply have taken an optimal edge past it's breaking point.