Thread: Order of usage?

Hey all! So, I'm pretty new to this. I've got a paddle strop, a flexible strop, a chromium oxide crayon/block, and .5 and .25 diamond pastes that just arrived.

Up to now I've been using chromium oxide on the rough side of the paddle strop first, and nothing on the smooth side, just to finish.

Now that I've got the pastes, I'm wondering what would be the best order of usage of the things I have to maintain my razor razor-sharp.

The pastes are not to be an everyday thing. They do help whe the razors edge has deteriorated a bit. Or after honing the razor as a final step.

Your paddle strops smooth side and your flexible strop, which I'm guessing is an animal skin of some kind, should be your go to daily strops before each shave. Now with proper stropping technique, that should maintain your edge for a good many shaves.

Good luck and I hope that helped, any other questions just ask

Originally Posted by Dieseld

The pastes are not to be an everyday thing. They do help whe the razors edge has deteriorated a bit. Or after honing the razor as a final step.

Your paddle strops smooth side and your flexible strop, which I'm guessing is an animal skin of some kind, should be your go to daily strops before each shave. Now with proper stropping technique, that should maintain your edge for a good many shaves.

Good luck and I hope that helped

They are both cow hide, I've been mostly using the paddle only, first chromium then smooth, and hand palm last. Good to know.

I also have a 1000 and a 6000 Japanese wet stones but I haven't used them yet on my razors, only on my knives.

You only need the smooth side of the paddle, or the cowhide strops for daily use.

Stay away from the stones for a bit, you can toast an edge in a second. Knives and razors are two totally different animals

Id be sure you lap your stones if you have been knife sharpening on them, before putting a razor on them. They need to be FLAT! Plus learn the rest of this hobby before trying to hone. Some people will argue but i feel its best to know what is what before honing a razor. Its not even close to sharpening a knife. Apples and Oranges.
Good luck and leave the compounds out of your daily stropping.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

You only need the smooth side of the paddle, or the cowhide strops for daily use.

Stay away from the stones for a bit, you can toast an edge in a second. Knives and razors are two totally different animals

Where you stop honing on a knife is where you begin honing on a razor............