Red and Black Strop Paste

Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying some red and black strop paste:

leather shaving strop paste, dovo of solingen black red strop paste UK

However, I'm wondering if I can use the black straight off the 8K Norton, or do I need to use both the red and then the black after the 8K (or something else)? I'm hoping to buy a 12k chinese hone sometime, but sadly finances only allow me to buy the paste for now, as I already have two small/old strops that aren't being used for anything.

Thanks for any advice.

Steven

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nerobot

Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying some red and black strop paste:

leather shaving strop paste, dovo of solingen black red strop paste UK

However, I'm wondering if I can use the black straight off the 8K Norton, or do I need to use both the red and then the black after the 8K (or something else)? I'm hoping to buy a 12k chinese hone sometime, but sadly finances only allow me to buy the paste for now, as I already have two small/old strops that aren't being used for anything.

Thanks for any advice.

Steven

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You certainly can go directly from the Norton 8K to the paste. Use the red (2-3 micron) first and then the black (1-2 micron). I use a 4-sided paddle strop and follow these two with chromium oxide (.5 micron) and a diamond paste (.25 micron). I am extremely satisfied with the results.

so... this chromium oxide is smaller than the black paste, and all the pastes go on the smooth side of these strops? I mean unless you have a four sided strop that makes four different strops right? red/black/chromium oxide/diamond. four.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wireskin@hotmail.com

so... this chromium oxide is smaller than the black paste, and all the pastes go on the smooth side of these strops? I mean unless you have a four sided strop that makes four different strops right? red/black/chromium oxide/diamond. four.

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I have an Illinois 827 (leather/linen) for my normal everyday stropping and a 4-sided paddle strop dedicated to the pastes (because once you put paste on a strop, it remains dedicated to that paste and you can't go back). I'm not sure what you mean by the smooth side. Also, the paste doesn't necessarily have to be on a strop. You could use newspaper, cardboard balsawood. In fact, there is a recent thread about making a balsawood strop here.