Thread: pastes and honing

Like I always say, put an edge under some running water and in a hundred years or so you'll have the sharpest razor in the world. Of course you won't be around to use it.

send him a blunt razor and ask him to paste it for you, then give it a go, if it works keep using it for a while and see if the edge holds.

Back a long, long, long, time ago when I was very young I would drag a knife blade backwards on a stone to try to sharpen it. I would make it shinny but not sharp. it would have a wire edge own it and get dull very quick. when I learned to set the bevel as if I were cutting the stone and finish up on hard stones my knife stayed sharp longer. I don't know but it would seam to me that using paste and strop only would do the same. It may work fine but I think I'll follow Lynn's and others on honing. I know I may never be as good as Lynn or Sixgun or Max but so far I can shave with what I do. If it works don't fix it.

Stick with the stones,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ah yes, knowledge vs wisdom.

Can it be done or should it be done?

Interesting answers here. Ive seen many post about using a coticule to set bevels. Ive never done it. Seems like a long time for me, but guys do it. It may not be main stream, but who knows what a pasted progression would bring. Good or bad. We got one fellow who actually has used it for tools. So I guess its the usual YMMV then. Im not interested in trying it as I have enough hones to do what I want to, but this may be something that at the end of the day may pan out for someone. Im of the opinion of whatever gets you here you want to be. Id love to hear from someone who uses it regularly though.

I think it could definitely be done on balsa but not leather - I think the flex of the leather would tend to round the edge too much to produce a usable razor.

Just my guess....

-john

Sometime back when I first joined this forum, one of the guys posted a link from one of the EU forums about bringing the razors into form on Loom Strops with Dovo Green, Red, & Black pastes..

I didn't believe it was possible and I didn't have a loom strop, but I did have a TI paddle strop, and an extra piece of leather (Thanks Doc), so I tried it after a bevel set, and was enlightened with the knowledge that is does work and rather well at that...

Bevel set with it ???? Yeah not me, you have fun with that experiment yourself, but after the bevel set, yeah it works, and it works with Dovo pastes which are comparatively speaking, a rather mild cutter...

Stop speculating and go try it

So using balsa in general to refresh; is rounding the edge never an issue like it would be on webbing? I know balsa has a little give in it. I use both balsa and webbing...generally anything with a taped spine while honing hits the canvas (without tape) and non taped blades hit the balsa.

I agree that if you were to try this that a balsa strop would seem the way to go. It's is cheap and less likely to round out the edge.

How'd you enjoy the shave from it Glenn?

Originally Posted by ocelot27

I think it could definitely be done on balsa but not leather - I think the flex of the leather would tend to round the edge too much to produce a usable razor.

Just my guess....

-john

Just to make this interesting

Why do some of you think that a "Rounded" "Convex" bevel is bad ???