Pasted Strop vs. Stone? Help!

Gentlemen,

I'm a newbie trying to get things sorted out for my first order. One pressing question: Can a pasted strop replace a wetstone? I have been looking specifically at Tony Miller's 4-sided pasted strop (3,1,.5, .25 microns) vs. a Norton 4000/8000 wetstone. Would the strop be enough for regular sharpening upkeep or is the stone a better investment? I think either way I will also invest in one of Tony's hanging strops as a pre-shave instrument.

The pasted strop is especially enticing as Tony offers a package that includes a hand honed razor, a hanging strop, the paddle strop and some extras, I'm just wondering if that will hold me through my "beginning stages" and continue to be useful beyond them?!

Any other suggestions?

Best, Witold.

Welcome aboard!

There was a time when all of Tony's razors where honed with pasted strops, so yes it can be done. So for upkeep of a razor, a pasted strop will suffice.

That said, I like stones. They work better and faster (for me). The problem will come if you ever get a razor that needs more than a touch up (anything from ebay) so a stone could be necessary. My general rule of thumb would be, any work to be done with a grit coarser than 1.0 micron should be done on a stone. Eventually, you may have a stone that replaces 1.0 micron paste as well.

As a beginner, if you start with a shave-ready razor you shouldn't need the 3.0 micron. If you do need to use something that coarse, I'd jump to a stone. The pastes that are most likely to be useful throughout your straight razor carreer are probably 0.5 and 0.25 micron.

Long story short, a pasted paddle will do for now. Inevitably, you'll end up with a stone, but I'd wait a little while to see what you're looking for in a stone.

Good choice with the Tony Miller hanging strop

Classic honing experience dictates use of a stone to maintain an edge. I have found that you can do touch up honing with a pasted strop and get away with that for quite a while but eventually you will need to go to the stone and like has been previously said if you get any vintage stuff or even some new not shave ready razors you will need the hone. I also find there is nothing like the edge off the Coticule. So my advice to you is go ahead and get the strop package but plan on getting the stone down the road. You'll need it sooner or later.