Hi all,
I have shaved with a straight razor for years, though it uses disposable blades.
I also have an old fashioned one from solingen, but I have never had a really good shave with it.
Probably this is because it is dull, even though it was sold as being ready to shave. It is certainly much duller than the disposables in my other straight.
Still, lately I have been wanting to swith to the real straight, and I am trying to get it honed.
I have a paddle strop that is plain leather on one side, and has a brown-reddish paste on the other side.
I have always thought that the side with the paste on it is for sharpening it when it gets dull. however, from what I read one this site I also need a 4K/8K stone to sharpen it?
Btw, Is it possible to make it as sharp as a disposable blade, using a stone like that, or do I need something else as well?
Thanks.