Thread: Which Paste to use?

Getting better at honing as the weeks go by. Still feel my straight can be sharper. Wondering if some paste on my strop will do the trick to keep the edge a little sharper between experimenting with the hone. If so which paste is good to purchase considering it would be used for everyday stroping. Looking at pastes they are all different colored tubes and grits. Just don't wanna destroy what I have and start all over again. Any suggestions would be useful.

NONE

If you paste your everyday strop to sharpen your razor it is no longer useful for every day.

You need to get a dedicated strop to paste, preferably a bench strop or paddle.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

NONE

If you paste your everyday strop to sharpen your razor it is no longer useful for every day.

You need to get a dedicated strop to paste, preferably a bench strop or paddle.

If I am understanding your reply to Lanzo119, you're saying that one shouldn't use any paste on the strop that is used everyday? What about anything on the linen side?

I have a DOVO Prima Rindleder Strop and plan on applying a bit of neatsfoot oil on the leather side. Should I apply anything to the linen side? Is the leather side good to go if used with a new, professionally-honed razor?

I'm totally new to straights and am soon to receive a new DOVO Bismarck from Mr. Abrams. I simply don't know whether to use paste for it and, if so, which ones. Thanks!

Cheers,
Constantine

As you said, to be clear...

When talking pastes, Wildtim and I are referring to abrasive compounds and should not be used everyday! If you try to, at best you will very quickly over-hone the blade and at worst cause pre-mature wear on the blade. Either way, it will not give you what you want!

This is not to be confused with strop dressing (as mentioned neats foot, mink oil or other dressings) designed to condition the leather. Additionally, this does not include white paste that is specifically intended for a linen strop. The white linen stuff is non-abrasive as I understand but you need to be careful to make sure it's the "right" white stuff. Some white diamond compounds are in fact abrasive so color alone is no indicator of it's intended use.

Your "every day" strop should be abrasive-free. Clean, smooth leather and linen (if applicable). If you want to use abrasive pastes/compounds for routine maintenance, use a dedicated strop of some kind and keep it far away from your daily strop (to avoid contamination).

If you use an abrasive paste to "touch-up" the edge, it is not very frequently. Ideally you shouldn't have to use it on a daily used blade more than once every few weeks or even months. YMMV....


v/r

Allen

Originally Posted by Constantine

If I am understanding your reply to Lanzo119, you're saying that one shouldn't use any paste on the strop that is used everyday? What about anything on the linen side?

I have a DOVO Prima Rindleder Strop and plan on applying a bit of neatsfoot oil on the leather side. Should I apply anything to the linen side? Is the leather side good to go if used with a new, professionally-honed razor?

I'm totally new to straights and am soon to receive a new DOVO Bismarck from Mr. Abrams. I simply don't know whether to use paste for it and, if so, which ones. Thanks!

Cheers,
Constantine

Why do you feel the neatsfoot is needed? Unless the leather is very dried out or otherwise unsuitable for stropping there is really no reason to treat a strop. If you are inexperienced and haven't used a strop brfoe treating it would be at best useless and at worst ruin your strop.

The neats foot is used occasionally to keep the strop soft and flexible. It isn't necessary, you can use the oil from your own skin to do the same thing, just rub your palm up and down the strop once a day, and you will get the same effect.

And for pastes, you need a second strop for pasting. if you put paste on the linen side you run the risk of cross contamination, and ruining your strop.

Check out JoshEarl's sticky at the top of this forum. Lots of good info there about doing what you are talking about. Note, however, that like the other guys have pointed out, using a pasted strop is not an every day thing to do. Just use it to freshen up an edge that is heading south.

What a learning experience! It sounds as if I ought simply to leave my strop alone. I'm thinking, however, of getting a paddle strop (two- or four-sided) for when I do need to use paste(s), something that I could also take when I have to travel (e.g., http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...44/2116703.htm). Am I on the right track, then?

Also, is any paste to be used on the linen? I seem to recall Lynn saying something about this in his DVD but I cannot remember for certain.

Thanks for bearing with a a newbie!

Cheers,
Constantine