Thread: Pasted stropping removing stone feel.

Ok so I don't know if the title makes sense but I was wondering if you guys think that pasted stroping nulls the feel of whatever stone you used to finish the razor. For example, you could tell the difference between two identical razors finished on a Norton 8K vs. a coticule but what if you then took the razors to a pasted strop. Would that make it so there is no difference because you put them both on paste therefore making it senseless to use a finisher versus a norton 8k because if you paste then it will feel the same? I am not saying this is so, its just been something I have been wanting to ask for a while and want to hear the pro opinion.

There are several opinions on this.

Here is a test we did to have some fun awhile back...


http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...7-day-set.html


http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ving-test.html


Some interesting reading in there

So I finished reading those threads and one other that was linked in the first one. The general consensus seems to be that the signature feel of a particular stone is less noticeable when pasted but still there and really can only be felt be someone with experience.

I have three razors and three finishers. This will be alot of experimentation for me to try and see the difference. I guess my approach will have to be to finish each razor on a stone and see what it feels like with out stropping. That way I can see what that stone feels like on that razor and then the next shave will be with the razors being stropped 50/100 linen/leather. See how that feels. Then the next day do about 5 or 10 laps on CrOx and the previous stropping technique. This will all be done with each razor and each stone for a total of 27 different combinations.

The side effect of this experiment will be that I will figure out what combo works best for each razor and I will be able to try and notice the difference between each technique I use.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

So I finished reading those threads and one other that was linked in the first one. The general consensus seems to be that the signature feel of a particular stone is less noticeable when pasted but still there and really can only be felt be someone with experience.

I guess I am confused at how you came up with that conclusion from reading those threads

Well the guy in that thread that you honed the 7 day set for did pick a favorite. Of course so did the other people you honed razors for and yet they each picked one honed on different stones(I believe it was CF, Escher and Nakayama each one picked) and keeping in mind that they were all pasted afterwards. So right there that would mean that there is no difference. However it is still and will always be a subjective thing. But the razor that won the 7 day set blind test had won 4-0. If the paste made it to where there really was no difference between the razors regardless of the hone then you would think the wins to losses would be more even and in reality there would be no winner because the shaver wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I don't know thats just what I got from it.

Perhaps the different stones were picked on each different set of razors because that was the stone that reacted the best with that razor..

Perhaps that shaver was more used to that stone's finish and that is why he picked that razor, that was also discussed in those threads..

This is why the blind tests are a bit better for these types of experiments as most people cannot help but weigh their conclusions to prove their hypothesis, it is human nature..

I can agree with that and I am not saying otherwise. But my original question was if you use paste on a razor will you still be able to feel the affects of the finishing hone. According to the test it seems the answer is yes. I could care less what stone they liked better what I care about is that they were able to feel a difference of the stones after using paste. Before I had asked this question I was thinking that the paste would remove any difference from stone to stone but, from what I have read, it seems otherwise...slightly. Either way the blade is sharp and smooth with just minor nuances between them.

IMO, yes, a pasted strop will mute (how much depends on how much it's stropped on pasted strop) the feel of a particular stone...thus why I don't recommend pasted strops...especially for those learning to hone. This also ALWAYS comes down to the personal preference thing. I like my edges rather crisp, but you don't "know" how you like your edges until you experiment.

You need to play with different stones, with & without slurry, varying amounts of slurry. You will find what you like. Then a few years later you will revisit a particular stone and re-kindle a love affair & have a new favorite stone...for a while. It's a viscous circle...you have been warned.