If you were getting good edges off a 12k and now even better edges from the 20K, what are you trying to achieve with paste?

While I do not have a 20K, I do have a number of finishing naturals that produce very nice comfortable edges, Arks, Thuringians, Eschers, Slates, Coticules, Vosegine and films. Some I paste with different sprays depending on what the edge needs, keenness, comfort or maintenance.

After some stones, I shave straight off of the stone, some just get some linen and leather laps for a bit of smoothness.

As with most things in this hobby, there is no recipe or rote formula, for getting a particular edge. You do what the edge needs, to get the best shave for your face.

Some pastes, Chrome, Ferrous, Cerium will give you smoothness for comfort. Some, Diamond, Yellowstone, Blue Velvet compound and lower grit CBN will give you some keenness and harshness. Some High grit CBN will give you both.

What paste can do is, give you that little extra option to tailor the edge for your face. Mostly to do what linen and leather stropping can do with many fewer laps.

So, it depends on what you think the edge needs.


When you say the 20k takes the edge to a whole new level, are you talking about keenness or comfort?