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