Thread: Norton 4K/8K stone or paddle strop?

Hi,

I'm new to straight shaving. I have a Dovo that I will be using, I may add a couple of different razors over time.
For the moment, My concern is to become self sufficient in regards to keeping a serviceable edge on my razor.
I just ordered a strop from the well shaved gentleman.
My question is this:
My current razor was "out of the box", not "shave ready". I want to sharpen my own razor, I will soon be moving to Guam and don't want to rely on having to mail a razor away to be sharpened.
What would be the better route to take?
1.)Norton 4000/8000 combination stone. Then stropping on the canvas followed by stropping on the leather of my strop. Or........

2.)4 sided paddle strop with abrasive pastes on each side. Then stropping on canvas followed by leather.

With the goal of being self sufficient. What would be the recommend purchase?
Norton 4000/8000 stone or a 4 sided paddle strop with various grades of abrasive pastes?

Keeping in mind, I'm a beginner and I am going to be sharpening out of the box razors myself.

I am sure I'll eventually end up with both the stone and the paddle one day.
Which option would lead to the most success starting out?

Thank you for any advice.

Take care,
Mitch

Originally Posted by SinglerM

Hi,

I'm new to straight shaving. I have a Dovo that I will be using, I may add a couple of different razors over time.
For the moment, My concern is to become self sufficient in regards to keeping a serviceable edge on my razor.
I just ordered a strop from the well shaved gentleman.
My question is this:
My current razor was "out of the box", not "shave ready". I want to sharpen my own razor, I will soon be moving to Guam and don't want to rely on having to mail a razor away to be sharpened.
What would be the better route to take?
1.)Norton 4000/8000 combination stone. Then stropping on the canvas followed by stropping on the leather of my strop. Or........

2.)4 sided paddle strop with abrasive pastes on each side. Then stropping on canvas followed by leather.

With the goal of being self sufficient. What would be the recommend purchase?
Norton 4000/8000 stone or a 4 sided paddle strop with various grades of abrasive pastes?

Keeping in mind, I'm a beginner and I am going to be sharpening out of the box razors myself.

I am sure I'll eventually end up with both the stone and the paddle on day.
Which option would lead to the most success starting out?

Thank you for any advice.

Take care,
Mitch

You will get all kinda of thoughts here but to me the Norton is indispensable and that is what you need and get some paste to apply to the linen on the strop and that would limit your purchase to one. Now I will say you should get both though

Originally Posted by Taz

You will get all kinda of thoughts here but to me the Norton is indispensable and that is what you need and get some paste to apply to the linen on the strop and that would limit your purchase to one. Now I will say you should get both though

+1 You just aren't kidding about opinions! Boiling things down. A Norton and a four-sided strop with the various pastes would probably take care of most situations. But who wants to normal?

Originally Posted by Kenrup

+1 You just aren't kidding about opinions! Boiling things down. A Norton and a four-sided strop with the various pastes would probably take care of most situations. But who wants to normal?

Thats the problem sometimes we go out and suggest things do to experience and fun and forget for a Noob how easy the 4/8 and some paste is. And also how universal.
Playing is where the fun is but that basic set up will keep you in great shaves

They are completely different tools for completely different problems sets. If your planning on using and updating shave ready razors or even new razors go with a paddle for initial simplicity. The grit will depend on whether you go with shave ready (which would probably be higher) over new. New would require a little lower grit. Maybe even as low as 3 micron.

If your going to buy vintage a create bevels you need the 4/8 K.

I'd recommend a paddle and a few choice pastes. Apply them to balsa wood first and see if you can get them to work, then go paddle strop if you like that plan. You can get one piece of balsa wood, enough to make several homemade paddles for a whopping $3. Pastes can get expensive fast though.

Unless your not planning to learn to hone and have little interest. Then stick with a paddle. You'll learn faster and get a better edge (for a beginner). Keep in mind that a year from now you'll own both either way. Afterall, your already talking about it on the internet. How much more obsessed can you get.

Mitch asked me this same question today and I suggested taking it to the group to get a more rounded opinion.

I used to sharpen all the razors I sold on pasted strops only. i started with 9.0 micron then jumped to 3.0, 1.0 and 0.5. I used this combo for a year before letting EL handle my honing. It did take a lot of passes depending on the out of box condition of the new razors but did work. I do agree though that a hard stone will probably leave a more technically perfect edge but unless pressing rather hard the leather on a paddle gives very little.

Tony