I have read many threads on pasted strops and it seems that a lot of people use either a 0.5 micron dimond paste or a chromium oxide paste for final polishing. How do the results compare? Which is easier to use?
Thanks
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I have read many threads on pasted strops and it seems that a lot of people use either a 0.5 micron dimond paste or a chromium oxide paste for final polishing. How do the results compare? Which is easier to use?
Thanks
A topic like this like asking a car nut which is better Ford or Chevy or a gun nut which is better Smith or Colt. It really depends what you prefer to use. I think you can get equal results depending on the grade of diamond and the grade of CrO. The diamond is probably faster but other than that its a personal thing. I've used both and I prefer diamond. I'm sure others will chime in with their favorite and why its better and I'm sure other will bring in other media too.
Big,
After using a pasted strop, is it necessary to strop on hanging leather or can one not use that step for the first shave after the pasted strop?
Bruce
I've only used diamond past so far and like it alot. Tony's pasted strop in a 1.0 and 0.5 gets me where I need to be. So much or so I'm looking to get another in a 0.25 and bare leather to finnish. It has helped me tramendously :D
I agree that this is another personal preference. With that being said, after speaking with Tony Miller about the pastes when I was researching a strop, Tony stated that the diamond paste leaves deeper more defined grooves in the steel due to the pointed "tips" of the diamond paste granules (I'm paraphrasing) which produces a harsher razor edge, while the CrO has rounded tips which leaves a smoother feeling edge to the razor.
Having not used the .5 diamond paste, my paddle has 3 micron and 1 micron diamond paste with .5 CrO paste on the third side, I can't comment directly on the edge it produces. My edges finished with the CrO is very smooth and comfortable.
From my experience, Jeff hit the nail on the head. I have used diamond compounds (1.0, 0.5, and 0.25) as well as the 'black diamond' paste sold by Keith at Hand American (not diamond at all, but don't remember the abrasive compound right now--1.0 micron), and CrO2 (0.5 micron). I've put all of these compounds on various leathers (Thanks Tony), balsa, cedar, maple...various other soft woods, and for me....I now finish all of my blades with CrO2 on smooth vegetable tanned leather. I find that (for me), the edge produced gives a markedly smoother shave than diamond paste of any grit.
Anyone want to buy some diamond pastes and a two sided balsa strop?
Just another data point,
Ed
Diamond faster, more aggressive.....Chromium, slower, smoother, more face friendly, (more messy).
I use both, on leather.
Tony
Thanks for all the replies .....I think I will need to get some chromium oxide and try it for my self.
Larry
Kind of funny, this topic just surfaced again on the kitchen knife forum I'm on. I'd love to try CrO with my razors when I get the funds to have multi paddles laying about :p
In answer to the question, yes after using a pasted strop you should use a plain leather strop. Plain leather is always the last thing you do before you shave and for some after too. Just remember to wipe or clean any residue from the pasted strop off you razor or you can cantaminate your plain strop.
That makes sense to me. I'm currently using Tony's .5/.25 diamond and following it up with a dozen or so passes on a black pasted strop. Really nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jfala
Ken
If I am not mistaken I think the 1.0 micron paste that Keith sells was Boron Carbide paste. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by ForestryProf
Boron Carbide sounds right to me as well but I think it was 1.8 micron.
Tony
I'll check my tub when I get home, pretty sure mine was labeled 1.0.....Thanks Tony :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Miller
Right you are Tony,Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Miller
That will teach me to post numbers from memory. I no longer use the black paste because I don't think it improves the edge of a razor that has been finished on a coticule. Before acquiring my coticule, I used the Boron Carbide after my Norton 4K/8K and then it was on to the CrO2.
Ed
One additional morsel of info curtesy of Tony. The diamond pastes are somewhat hygroscopic, they will absorb moisture in the air. The paddle strop I will order from Tony when he comes back will have CrO on one side because it doesn't absorb moisture so much.
You can't get much more humid than a sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico. :D
I notice my shop is more humid than my bedroom where my paddle is stored. In my shop the paddles keep a slightly dark, "damp" look for a week, once in the house or bedroom they dry to a whitish haze within a day, I suspect they will vary a bit depending where they are used around the country. If I take mine back into the shop ir starts to look a bit damp again after a few days.
Once damp they seem a little sticky and a bit harder to use.
Ton