Thread: Is this enough?

I have one of Tonys pasted strops which has kept my razors sharp, but Im either going to have to send some stuff out soon or just break down and by the norton 4k/8k.

if I get the norton and I have the pasted strop isnt that enough to get the job done right?

Keep in mmind Im spoiled most of my razors have been honed by Lynn or John Crowley.

it probably doesnt matter but all of my razors (or most) are stainless steel and 8/8.

I'd get the Norton if I were you. That would make you more self-reliant. Since you already have good bevels to begin with, it won't take much work to get'em back to being shave-ready. However, I'd get the 2" Norton if I were you. It's easier to do the X with.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

... if I get the norton and I have the pasted strop isnt that enough to get the job done right? ...

While I was waiting for the first razor I ordered to arrive I went out and bout a Norton Combination stone and some 0.5µ Chromium Oxide stick which I pastelled onto an old piece of suede my wife had hanging around. I'd also managed to nab a DD Special and some practice razors on eBay which arrived before the shave ready Böker from David Uthe.

All that is to say that I was able to get a good shaving edge pretty quickly as a branded n00bie with that equipment alone.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

... Keep in mmind(sic ) Im(sic ) spoiled most of my razors have been honed by Lynn or John Crowley. ...

That's a good thing. You'll have the appropriate expectations.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

... it probably doesnt matter but all of my razors (or most) are stainless steel and 8/8.

I bet that does matter. Those SS blades will likely require a little more work that a Sheffield razor would.

X

Josh,
If you want to go minimalist, given that you are just refreshing the edge on professionally honed razors and already have pasted strops, you might want to go with a coticule or an escher. My 4K only gets used when a razor is no where near close to shave ready, and the 8K only if I've let the edge go too long and shaved a few times after it should have gone back to the hone. Typically, when a razor starts to pull on me, 10 passes on the coticule followed by the pasted strops is more than enough to bring it back to nirvana.

Just another data point,
Ed

Originally Posted by ForestryProf

Josh,
If you want to go minimalist, given that you are just refreshing the edge on professionally honed razors and already have pasted strops, you might want to go with a coticule or an escher. My 4K only gets used when a razor is no where near close to shave ready, and the 8K only if I've let the edge go too long and shaved a few times after it should have gone back to the hone. Typically, when a razor starts to pull on me, 10 passes on the coticule followed by the pasted strops is more than enough to bring it back to nirvana.

Just another data point,
Ed

hmm...thanks Ed, maybe I will start with that then. I'll need a norton eventually, but Im hoping I get some gift certificates to classicshaving for my birthday lol so Im waiting a bit till I do anything.

Josh,

I have a norton Combo 4k/8k
plus a Chinese 12k

But my favorite is a 4 sided pasted paddle strop I got from Tony. It is so simple to keep the edge fresh. Since I have gotten it I haven't used the 12k once. In fact I haven't used the Norton either. Oh well.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Josh,

I have a norton Combo 4k/8k
plus a Chinese 12k

But my favorite is a 4 sided pasted paddle strop I got from Tony. It is so simple to keep the edge fresh. Since I have gotten it I haven't used the 12k once. In fact I haven't used the Norton either. Oh well.

Ya I like my 4 sided paddle strop, but it seems a little harder to keep my stainless blades sharp with it....i think i need to put more .25 diamond paste on one of the sides it looks pretty worn.

When your edge is no longer comfortable to shave with do you start with .5 or 1 micron?

On my stainless I have been doing 20 round drips on .5 and 15 on .25 and it just doesnt feel like the .25 is putting that great edge on it anymore...

not sure if its the strop or the INOX blades...but that .25 side does look pretty worn and i havent used it that much....very strange.

I have started with the .25 for 20 if that wasn't enough I'd go to the .5 and then the .25 for 20 etc. Making sure I wiped the blade before changing sides.
I must admit I have not taken a dull razor to sharp on it though.

Go to the 1.0 for 20 laps then the 0.5 and the 0.25. If that does not do it then repeat... up to 3 times. If that does not do it then use the 3.0 micron then the 1.0 etc.

If that fails then its is time for the hones.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

Ya I like my 4 sided paddle strop, but it seems a little harder to keep my stainless blades sharp with it....i think i need to put more .25 diamond paste on one of the sides it looks pretty worn.

When your edge is no longer comfortable to shave with do you start with .5 or 1 micron?

On my stainless I have been doing 20 round drips on .5 and 15 on .25 and it just doesnt feel like the .25 is putting that great edge on it anymore...

not sure if its the strop or the INOX blades...but that .25 side does look pretty worn and i havent used it that much....very strange.