Thread: Pasters please weigh in

I also hone using lapping films.

I take it down to 3um, and lately have gone from there directly to 0.5 chrome ox.

Another update since that post I linked above is that what I had previously been using as "chrome ox" was that crayon green stuff, that is certainly not as fine as the ChrisL chrome ox, that I am currently employing.

So far I have mainly used Crom ox on a bench strop (HA felt) and a loom strop. I just got one of the new Lynn special hanging felts but I haven't pasted it yet. I have only used the Cr ox to freshen up an edge between passes if a razor needed it. I then take it back to the hones.

I recently got a TM four sided paddle with the usual 0.5,3.0 and 1.0 diamond paste and I applied Cr Ox on the fourth side. So far I have only used the 1.0 and followed it with crom ox. I still have to get to know the diamond pastes.

I don't think it is "cheating", sharpening is about removing and shaping metal and pastes are just another tool to get you where you want to go. OTOH, I still try to get it with the hones and the strop and will continue to do so until I am satisfied with my skill level. If that ever happens.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Here's my take on the issue;

Very cool thread.

I think its safe to say that no matter what method we use it is the right method for us and to try and dissect which is better will go no where.

Getting a GREAT SHAVE is the ONLY thing that matters. NOT using paste-because it's CHEATING is just plain STUPID.

Who cares HOW you "get there" just as long as you can indeed hone an edge that gives you a comfortable,close shave. Its nice to have most if not ALL the tools to hone at your disposal-then LEARN to use them.

1) YES
2)CrOx on a balsa paddle strop is one of my favorite honing tools. Cheap and EASY.
3).25 diamond paste creates a harsh edge IMHO.
4)NO
5) Like I said before-that is just plain STUPID

I started with a DMT8ee and a 4 sided pasted strop with 3.0,1.0,0.5, and 0.25 micron pastes. It works very well once a bevel was set. Every week I would have to go to the pasted strop and then about every 3 months I would go to the DMT. I got very good shaves, with very sharp razors. I have since gone to a couple of hones. Using the 16K and 1K Shapton and really like the shaves that I am getting when using them. I have found that I can go 2 weeks between touch ups now and the shaves are very smooth. Starting with pastes is the way to go because it takes very little time to sharpen a razor that just needs a touch up. I could do a couple of razors in 15 minutes and was good to go for about 2 weeks. The idea is to learn to get clean, comfortable shaves and pastes helped me get there very quickly.

Take Care,
Richard

Totally cheating. Send your Tam O'Shanter to me as penance and go back 3 spaces.


Unless you are a hone only puritan, do what works, right?




Personally, I am on a "natural stones only" kick right now, so it would be out of character for me to do so (but you ain't me).

1. Not really. I've found pastes unrivalled in their ability to make a sharp edge, but for my skin the resulting shave is uncomfortable and harsh.
2. They are easy to use, very efficient and quick, and you can just pick up the pasted strop and in 30 seconds you're done.
3. Pastes can be a little messy in applying to the strop, but that's not exactly a regular activity. They do also tend to lead to a more fragile and ephemeral edge. Those and the comfort factor is what I find the biggest downside.
4. Nope.
5. Certainly not. As Arclight says, it's how the edge feels to you rather than how you get there. If you get the most smooth and comfortable shaves from pastes, then who's to say it's cheating?

I have recetly put my use of pastes to rest temporarily to focus on how good an edge I can get from hones alone. I may return to them, but ultimately the comfort of the shave is the most important thing to me, and my skin type doesn't respond well to adges sharpened on pastes.

If I may add something further. I have a paddled strop with 1.0,0.5, and 0.25 as previously stated. After much research I have decided what hones I might like and it so happens that I have picked Shapton 16K for instance and that will eliminate the 1.0 micron paste. I have seen a dramatic change in edge quality with that choice. I may get the 30K but that is expensive and we will see, I may instead, choose a different stone that is in that range. Another added note, for me coming off the 0.25 is harsh unless I strop at least a 100 times and there a lot of people that just use 0.5 Chromium and love the shave that they get off that.

The point being that pastes are great because they are very versitle and easier to use than hones. The harder the steel gets the better pastes seem to work. I have a couple of razors that have very hard steel and the resulting edge off paste has a lot less harshness and is very durable.

Take Care,
Richard

Here are my answers, they are a little oddball but hey, I got to be me.

1. 1.8 BC or CO on linen hanging strop, either the dry powder on the cloth or using beeswax as a binder for the abrasives. My new favorite is tin oxide on a denim covered paddle strop. I aslo have a hanger with flexcut gold that gets periodic use, but not for finishing. Perfect balance, it is never going to happen, that is like Nirvana. It is the trying to get there that makes this fun.
   
2. It is cheap to experiment with various abrasives as compared to buying exotic hones.
   
3. The mess
   
4. No
   
5. No

Charlie