Thread: Newbie brainstorm!

Right then, after a dizzying amount of back reading through the forums it seems to me, at this early stage in my journey, that the following might do the job, rather than buying even more kit:

Norton 4k/8k hone (I fully admit that it will take me a while to know how to use just that well enough)

Linen strop with soap rubbed in and chalk powder applied (I reckon this combo would equate to white paste)

Leather strop with oil treatment,

Plentiful use of the linen and leather sides daily to maintain the edge,

A quick strop after shaving to remove any moisture, the oils from a treated leather strop will add a thin coat and protect the strop from any minor moisture in the air.

In time another strop pasted with CrOx will probably be added, but for now I'm trying to keep my kit travel friendly (don't laugh)


One big question though - can i use Vaseline as a cheap alternative to specialist strop paste???

If not what other household grease or oil would work?



Thanks guy, this website has to be hands down the most informative place I've ever found on the web.

I built myself a motorhome entirely from the info I found in the forums on S.B.M.C.C. (now for sale to fund a straight razor addiction!)

But this place is purely pleasure

Why the need to gunk up a strop?

hi ginga and welcome to SRP. I notice you locate yourself in UK? Check out the SRP: UK group and next meet up. Now to your post.

"1. Norton 4k/8k hone (I fully admit that it will take me a while to know how to use just that well enough)"

This IS essential if you dont want to keep sending your razor away to be honed, either this or some similar alternative. DONT forget however to flatten your hone before you start using it.

"Linen strop with soap rubbed in and chalk powder applied (I reckon this combo would equate to white paste)"

I can honestly say I have never found a satisfactory reason for having a linen side to the strop. All 3 of my strops have a linen side. I use none of them. I would encourage you to do the same. There is no use to them and will only have a negative effect on the edge you get on a hone.


"Leather strop with oil treatment,

Plentiful use of the linen and leather sides daily to maintain the edge,

A quick strop after shaving to remove any moisture, the oils from a treated leather strop will add a thin coat and protect the strop from any minor moisture in the air."

Yes get the leather strop. Use strop paste on it though, yellow. If you need a UK website where these things can be ordered then let me know I can direct you. DONT use anything else on the strop to treat it. Certainly no oil and no DONT use vaseline.

"In time another strop pasted with CrOx will probably be added, but for now I'm trying to keep my kit travel friendly (don't laugh)"

If you are trying to keep it simple you will need razor, leather strop, yellow strop paste, Norton 4k/8k and if you want to go one step better (I recommend) then go badger hair brush and nice soaps from TGQ. You'll need to flatten the hone too but ask about that when the time comes. Thats all. Nothing else.

"One big question though - can i use Vaseline as a cheap alternative to specialist strop paste???

If not what other household grease or oil would work?"


As I said, No.

Welcome to SRP

Sandy

Well i have the Norton4/8k already and the leather/linen strop from Vintage Blades in the US.

many people on here say they found a longer lasting edge with linen stropping before leather, especially with the white paste.

And yes i would love to know where to get stuff in the UK, I took the oppurtunity of getting my starter kit whilst in the US coz it was half the price.

It's the russian leather strop that i have, made in Solingen, surface is soft but textured, like a very gentle suede, would that still need the yellow paste?

The thing is that there seems to be a great deal of talk and effort regarding teh stage between 8k honing and final stropping, it makes me feel like I am missing out on something here, especially since I have trouble getting a good edge that shaves smoothly. I was hoping the chalk and linen would help the jump, so many people talk about 12k, 16k, coticules, red/green paste on strops.

i would love to hear form someone who can just go from 8k to leather strop and still get a silky smooth shaving edge, that is what I call mastery.

But I am here to learn.

thanks

edit - I have already used 330 grit paper and glass plate to flatten the hone.

Originally Posted by gingahippy

Well i have the Norton4/8k already and the leather/linen strop from Vintage Blades in the US.

many people on here say they found a longer lasting edge with linen stropping before leather, especially with the white paste.

And yes i would love to know where to get stuff in the UK, I took the oppurtunity of getting my starter kit whilst in the US coz it was half the price.

It's the russian leather strop that i have, made in Solingen, surface is soft but textured, like a very gentle suede, would that still need the yellow paste?

The thing is that there seems to be a great deal of talk and effort regarding teh stage between 8k honing and final stropping, it makes me feel like I am missing out on something here, especially since I have trouble getting a good edge that shaves smoothly. I was hoping the chalk and linen would help the jump, so many people talk about 12k, 16k, coticules, red/green paste on strops.

i would love to hear form someone who can just go from 8k to leather strop and still get a silky smooth shaving edge, that is what I call mastery.

But I am here to learn.

thanks

edit - I have already used 330 grit paper and glass plate to flatten the hone.

The 330/glass paper combo is perfect for flattening the hone. Its what I use. I take it you mean wet/dry sandpaper? And that you used the hone on the flat sandpaper, not the other way around?

The following sites are where to get stuff from the UK online:

Shaving products, brushes, gentlemens shaving products, shaving accessories UK - helpful information here as well as some good products.

Introduction to razors - This site is run by Steve aka 'blueprinciple' who is a member of SRP. He can tell you alot about honing. He also sells a number of hones which will serve for the stage between 8k and strop. All round good guy. He did a demo at the recent SRP:UK meet up which was recorded. To see the video get onto 'Silver'.

Straight Razors - Safety Razors - Wet Shaving & Grooming Supplies - This is not a UK site but I do recommend it because it is run by our own fair Lyn (I believe) who was there at the start of SRP. Some excellent stuff on his site.

There are also some great places to get soap online from SRP members. I would recommend Shaving, Bath and Body, Skincare, Home Fragrance, Brushes, Creams, Soaps - user 'churley' runs it AKA Colleen. She is a soap goddess.

I do think you will still need the yellow paste on the strop. The yellow paste has no grit in it at all. It therefore doesnt make a razor stropped on it any sharper. Thats not what it does. I look on the yellow paste as something that 'feeds' the leather in the same way as shoe polish 'feeds' the leather in your shoes.

I'm not sure if i've missed anything out. Have I?

If I have just post and let me know.

Sandy

Originally Posted by gingahippy

Linen strop with soap rubbed in and chalk powder applied (I reckon this combo would equate to white paste)

I'm not sure chalk is the right grit. Wood ash is messy, but does the trick.

Originally Posted by gingahippy

Plentiful use of the linen and leather sides daily to maintain the edge,

I'm going to caution you on the overuse of your strop too. While it gives me a terrific shave, it dulls the razor a little quickly and then it's time for the hone again. I've been doing great with just the leather almost all year.

Originally Posted by gingahippy

A quick strop after shaving to remove any moisture, the oils from a treated leather strop will add a thin coat and protect the strop from any minor moisture in the air.

Interesting idea, but again I'm not sure that the oil used to condition the leather strop will have any practical effect. Strop to remove grit, sure, but don't expect too much else.

Originally Posted by gingahippy

... can i use Vaseline as a cheap alternative to specialist strop paste???

If not what other household grease or oil would work?

Vaseline? NO! I use mink oil. You can use neatsfoot oil or almost any leather conditioner.

X

Different strokes for different folks but I use the linen/leather daily. I don't use any paste on the linen or oil on the leather. Rubbing the leather with the palm of my hand is the method I read about on SRP and having tried it I like it. I use CromOx on a piece of felt and on a loom strop.

As far as the value of the linen, here is an interesting thread on the topic. That and practice made a believer out of me. YMMV.

Thanks again guys, that's plenty to be getting on with, I'll just have to practice with what I've got and add as i feel I need with time.

My edge is getting a littel better but still not good enough. maybe I need to perfect the hone, but if i can find a cheap antique strop to paste up then I will do that.

I'd love to think this could just be a simple practical element of my life but it seems clear that it quickly becomes an onsession of sorts.

Still, you gotta have a hobby.