Thread: Paddle Strop/diamond paste or 12 K Chinese waterstone

I am trying to decide what to buy. I am considering either buying a paddle strop with 1 micron and .5 micron diamond paste, or a 12K Chinese waterstone. On another post someone said that the waterstone could keep my blade refreshed without needing further honing, whereas using the pastes would eventually mean honing the blade again. Besides this I am leaning to the waterstone because I eventually want to learn how to hone, and I was hoping that working on the 12 K would get me used to the motions, without the danger of destroying the blade. Am I being naive? Could a newbie, who has never honed a razor, use a 12K to maintain the blade without the risk of ruining the blade? I am afraid I probably suffer from what many newbies do - honing looks so easy when you see an expert do it, that it can not really be that hard syndrome. Any counsel on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Christopher

You are an individual and must find what works for you. I recommend you get both and sell anything that you aren't finding useful. I use a 12k stone AND a pasted paddle regularly.

X

Eventually you will want both so start with what appeals to you. Please be aware that neither is a miracle worker. you will need a 4K/8K eventually so start planning for that also.


Hope this helps,

I agree with X and Randy. If you want to just buy one or the other right now... Boy, tough call. I'd probably vote for the pasted strop, but just by a little.

I do think the 12K might be a good introduction to honing for you. The old barber manuals recommend learning to hone on a slow hone, like a coticule or slow barber hone. I think this is because it's hard to overhone on these hones vs. a faster one like the Norton. The 12K would definitely fit in the slow category.

These barbers had someone else do the heavy-duty honing, though. If they damaged an edge, it was sent out to the local cutlery shop. We don't have that option, so we all have to learn how to do major overhauls, too.

Getting a shave-ready razor and learning to maintain it on a 12K will teach you some honing basics. On the other hand, you're less likely to mess up the edge on a pasted strop. (If you mess up the edge on a 12K, you'll have a few years' worth of work ahead of you to fix it without buying another hone. )

Good luck,
Josh