Thread: did I just kill my strop?

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

I just ordered a paddle strop from TM with 1.0 on one side, and 0.5 on the other. I'm currious to see what it will look like.

I'll be looking at this post to see what to expect when I need to re-charge the strop...

Umm, slightly ugly <g>. None of them paste beautifully but I try to get a fairly even coat on them. It does take a bit of practice and a few tricks. I take a damp sponge and make one quick swipe down the length of the paddle then apply paste very quickly rubbing it out as evenly and quickly as possible. The plain eather will suck the moisture right out of the paste leaving a very uneven coat. the wetting helps buy you time. I then let them dry a day or two before shipping but they will still show a somewhat mottled look.

Less is better but guys do like to see what they paid for so I slightly over pate these. of course I still get the same two comments " Looks like you used too much paste" or " Looks like you didn't use enough paste" <g> Can't please'em all!

I have been using diamond sparys on my own strops and it goes on much easier and does not seem to attract moisture (humidity) in the summer, a short coming with pastes. Once applied it looks like you have nothing on the strops so the numbers indicating grit size are important. I do think they need application more often than pastes but one or two quick spritzes and you are fully recharged. Crystalite is a good commercial brand at $18-20 a bottle and I will have my own on July 1st (more or less).

Tony

I probably should have read that before I applied the paste. Oh well, too late now. would you recommend using the sponge now that I've all ready applied a coat? BTW, it probably would have been 10,000 x easier if I would have ordered it with paste applied but I wanted to learn all the ins and outs of this stuff.

I don't think I would use the sponge now and you certainly didn't ruin anything yet! Use Lynn's wet you finger and smear it around method, get a halfway even coat and you will be fine.....no worries.

Tony

just used a little more water and a little more paste and it looks like I've got a pretty even coat. I should have another one of your strops coming in (for daily stropping)

http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...4&categoryId=4

so I think we will test my pasting abilities when that comes in the mail. Until then, I guess I'll keep using the feather RG