Thread: Coticule vs. pasted or CrO2 strop

I saw a thread a while back wherein one writer, if I remember correctly, said that he would not follow a coticule with a pasted strop as the pasted strop, though it added to the sharpness, took away some of the smoothness left by the coticule. I've been considering trying a pasted strop but would like to hear some comments from the forum about this issue.

As fine as the pastes seem to be, it seems to me, in my uneducated opinion, that they would not be a detriment to the smoothness of the edge. But, I'll defer to the experience of the group.

Also, if this is a valid concern, does it also hold true for CrO2?

Thanks in advance.

I enjoy edges from either. I've got a heljestrand 22 finished on a yellow belgian and a wapienica finished on chromium oxide paste and both shave me without any harshness from the blade that I can discern. But directly after coming off of a pasted strop I will strop the razor on plain leather 150 or 200 times to smooth it out

I consider these honing media to be very different. The yellow coticule has the capability to really polish the edge and do some more serious alignment due to the fact that it is a stone. The CrO is a bit finer and provides a finer polish but due to the fact that it is normally on a strop does not have the ability to refine the edge that the yellow coticule can perform. I almost always use the CrO as a final polish unless I am coming off of my Nakiyama Japanese hone.

Personally, I never mix pasted strops and stones. if I'm going to use pasted strops I'll use diamond and finish with the chrome. if I'm going to use hones its usually the coticule or escher. So you ask why? Hones and pastes work in a different manner and I don't like mixing the two. I look at it like going 4 wheeling in a jeep with off road tires on the front and road tires on the rear.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Personally, I never mix pasted strops and stones. if I'm going to use pasted strops I'll use diamond and finish with the chrome. if I'm going to use hones its usually the coticule or escher. So you ask why? Hones and pastes work in a different manner and I don't like mixing the two. I look at it like going 4 wheeling in a jeep with off road tires on the front and road tires on the rear.

Wait a minute, aren't they doing the exact same thing?

Love your signature by the way!

If you can't decide try both as your budget allows. Both improve the shave but the end results and difference will be your evaluation to decide. I have both and like both, but I like change. There is a post or tow here on SRP on how to make a paddle strop using a banister post from Home Depot and some balsa wood. Total cost < $20 paste imcluded. It was the easiest thing I ever did next to cutting myself. The hones will cost much more.