Thread: STAINLESS STEEL/DIAMOND PASTE

I have a few stainless steel blades. I hone and finish with balsa. They shave well and close but a little something seems to be missing with smoothness. I have heard that diamond pastes and CRO2 are good for stainless steel. Should I be using these?

Originally Posted by tavli

I have a few stainless steel blades. I hone and finish with balsa. They shave well and close but a little something seems to be missing with smoothness. I have heard that diamond pastes and CRO2 are good for stainless steel. Should I be using these?

They aren't necessary, but they can make it easier and cheaper to get a great edge. What are you currently putting on your balsa for honing?

I use 2 pastes on 2 separate balsa hones both from Classic Shaving. The white to give an edge and then the green cro2 to smooth the edge.

Originally Posted by tavli

I use 2 pastes on 2 separate balsa hones both from Classic Shaving. The white to give an edge and then the green cro2 to smooth the edge.

Try skipping the chrome oxide and just use the white paste for a few days and see how that goes. Chrome oxide is useful after the norton 8k or other 8k hones, but I believe the classic shaving white paste is already submicron so the chrome oxide shouldn't be necessary (and may actually be dulling the edge that the white paste is putting on the blade).

I have stainless steel blades and they are smooth as can be. Your razor has to be sharp then smootness should follow. I have some TI rasoir paste its cheap ,but really works leaving a smooth edge you should try it . Its best on canvas strop, if you can unsrew and take your canvas out, put it on back side.