Thread: Whats more superior? 4 sided pasted strop -or- Naniwa 12K and balsa wood w/ chrmOX

So I am wanting to buy some more equipment to really keep my shaving edge fresh. At the moment all i own is a Norton 4k/8k and a strop with a little chrome OX on it, but that needs to be replaced soon, the chromium oxide is getting worn off. I do not feel this is enough equipment to keep my edges at a premium, for a comfortable shave. Does anyone agree/disagree?

I was almost convinced to buy a 4 sided strop and use various pastes on it to keep the edge nice and fresh, and this 4 sided strop combined with the norton would be all I would ever need to have a nice sharp razor.

But now after reading on the site for a while I am not so sure. It seems that pasting is more convenient, but inferior to honing. Meaning that pasting will somehow ruin the integrity of the edge over repeated usage. Is this true? It seems that the Naniwa 12k and a balsa wood with chromium OX on it can
get the same great edge that a 4 sided strop can. True?

If what I have said is true, I was thinking about getting a Naniwa 12K and one of those pieces of balsa wood coated in chromium oxide. I figured this would be a versatile choice to keep my edges fresh. Both of these do not need to soak, so they can be used immediately, just like the 4 sided pasted strop. and they seem like they would be able to get that great "finished" edge on a razor, like the 4 sided pasted strop. Basically what I am wanting is something in the bathroom, for when the razor is dragging a bit, that I can pull out, and do a few quick laps, and be back to great shaving.

Once the pro VS cons are all balanced up, is there any real reason to go with a 4 sided pasted strop over the 12k Naniwa and balsa strop?? I do not have any experience with either of these methods, so it would be great to hear from you guys who have done either.

Personally I would lean toward the 12k Naniwa and the balsa for bang for the buck. You can pick up a piece of balsa at a hobby store for a couple of dollars 3x36x1/8 and cut it into 8" lengths. Glue it onto a piece of wood or in my case Plexiglas. The 12k hone is a good finisher to go to past your 8k norton.

The 4 sided paddle is darn good too. Mine is impregnated with diamond paste in progressive grits. For keeping something in the shave area to touch up an edge a barber hone such as a Swaty is very good too.

I think the 12k Naniwa and balsa combination would be superior to the 4-sided strop. To supplement the Naniwa you could also use balsa with a variety of diamond pastes in addition to the chrom. ox. With the Norton 4k/8k combo, the Naniwa 12k, a few pieces of balsa, and a decent strop, you should be able to keep your blades in top shape.

This is Human psychology. You will never be happy what you have. you will try to get better hones,strops etc.
And nothing wrong with it .WE all have same disease.
Now about your questions.
will 12k naniwa and balsa will do the job of course will.
"when the razor is dragging a bit, that I can pull out, and do a few quick laps, and be back to great shaving.
"
will nice barber hone will resolve above problem ? of course it will.


"

It seems that pasting is more convenient, but inferior to honing. Meaning that pasting will somehow ruin the integrity of the edge over repeated usage. Is this true?

Actually This will be great debate. I am with you and sooooooo many people against this.
Again it is natural too.
Now you will need to read more advises and make a decision.

I hope you will not end up buying High grit stones ( Escher', japanese hones so on etc) . Although i know one day you will end up in there .
gl

I was going to say you've opened up a can of worms here, but it's more like a mountain of cottonmouths....

A four sided strop for someone that is new is the absolute best way to start (IMHO) considering price, knowledge base, and minimum amount of time to get a very good edge. When you have been at it a while then you can decide what direction you are going to go. I started with a 4 sided strop with 1.0,0.5,0.25 diamond pastes and Chromium Oxide for the 4th side. With the the Nortons you are good to go. I have since gone to Coticule,16K, and 30K Shaptons followed by 0.25 diamond paste then to a 0.1 diamond sheet and it is the pinnacle of shaving so far for me.

As far as using it in the bathroom I personally don't use them that way. I sit down and do a couple of razors at one session that takes about 15 minutes. I found that the pasted strops gave me one razor that would last me about 7 days of excellent shaves. Eventually I found that the the number of shaves that I got from pasting would drop to like 4 shaves and then is was necessary to go the 4K and work up. The added benefit of hones further up the progression seemed to me to be that the edge was more stable. Even after 7 days I could get still what I would call "excellent" shave, which is saying something, because I know that I was a lot more discerning about what edge I shaved with.

That is my adventure so far with honing. I am getting in the ballpark as is evident of the razors that I have received for others that I know are very good honers.


Take Care,
Richard

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

This is Human psychology. You will never be happy what you have. you will try to get better hones,strops etc.
And nothing wrong with it .WE all have same disease.
Now about your questions.
will 12k naniwa and balsa will do the job of course will.
"when the razor is dragging a bit, that I can pull out, and do a few quick laps, and be back to great shaving.
"
will nice barber hone will resolve above problem ? of course it will.


"
Actually This will be great debate. I am with you and sooooooo many people against this.
Again it is natural too.
Now you will need to read more advises and make a decision.

I hope you will not end up buying High grit stones ( Escher', japanese hones so on etc) . Although i know one day you will end up in there .
gl

+ 1 on the barber hone. I have the Nani 12k, and love it to finish up when I am honing a blade picked up from local antique stores, etc. But there's nothing quite like the convenience of a barber hone kept in the bathroom. A few swipes of lather on top, 3-5 laps with the razor, and you are pretty much refreshed.

I also have a balsa hone with CrOx, and it works well too.

But my barber hones always seem to bring the edge back a bit better. I use the CrOx when my edge feels sharp enough, but the shave isn't as smooth.

When the razor's tugging, though, I go to the barber hone and it hasn't failed me yet.

I go straight from the Naniwa SS 12K to a felt strop or flatbed with .5 diamond spray and get very consistent results.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

I go straight from the Naniwa SS 12K to a felt strop or flatbed with .5 diamond spray and get very consistent results.

Have fun,

Lynn

The Naniwa 12k is such a wonderful hone. I use it every time I have a honing session after the Norton 4/8k. I haven't tried diamond spray yet, is it harsh, Lynn? I usually follow the 12k with a coticule and water to smooth the edge more and then a pasted strop with CrO.