Thread: Strop and paste vs. hone

Maybe not of the Shapton 16k specifically but yes lots of threads on paste and film. Paste can go as high as 0.005um/ 3.2 million grit and film .03um/60grit film. As a point of reference, Chromium Oxide that has been used for hundreds of years is .50um 30,000 grit.

There are many, many posts on honing on film and stropping on paste.

Both work exceptionally well, but there are limits, (the law of diminishing returns?) but perhaps not what you think.

It depends on your beard and skin type, the quality of your honing and most importantly the quality of the steel.

You can make an edge so keen that it will exfoliate skin painlessly, but a few seconds later your skin will weep blood, (weepers). Film and paste can both easily create those edges.

Paste readily available to 0,10um/ 160,000 grit can polish an edge stria free and it will shave well, but the edge will not last and begin to microchip, the steel cannot handle the edge. Remember the actual cutting edge of any razor cannot be seen without the aid of magnification of about 1,000 power.

If you want to experiment with paste, start with pure Chromium Oxide, it will give a smooth keen polished edge, a stick of pure Chrome Oxide is about $10 from any good razor supplier and a lifetime supply. Where as a .50um CBN paste can make a keener, harsher edge, same grit size, different shape grit. 12k and Chrome Oxide is a very good edge for most, but there may be even more room for improvement.

Honing a straight razor is not just about sharpness, sharp is easy, sharp, and comfortable is the trick and not so…easy. A straight razor edge can be tailored for your skin, beard, and razor, that is one of the benefits, a tailored edge. Necks are almost universally a problem area for the same reasons you have issues. A keen properly honed edge can help, sharper is not always the answer.