Thread: Pasted Strops "The Experiment"

Blen died with boredom, but the thing is that a new guy can keep a razor going for a very long time with diamond pastes or sprays and a strop. The starting out should be looking at this. This is almost the exact formula that I used on a 4 sided strop. I added 1.0 micron and a DMT8EE and kept my razors going for a little over a year. Giving a new guy a good alternative to the hones is a very good thing. It gives him time to learn how to shave and not worry about the honing process.


Thanks again Glen,
Richard

I am no expert, but I have some experience with diamond paste. I actually broke my only hone (don't ask me how) and survived for months on the diamond pasted strop alone. I also have to admit that I never could get great sharpness without the paste. I could get it "shave-ready" with the stone, but it would never be comfortable.

However, after a long while stropping with the paste when necessary, I started noticing small irregularities on both my razors. These tiny "spots" or "nicks"on the sharp edge would scratch the leather while stropping. The only way I could fix it was by getting a new stone.

I have a natural Chinese water stone now. I like it more than the old Norton stone, but I still need a little diamond paste to finish the edge.

That looks like a good ratio of honing to clean stropping. Around 10/1 I think.

I think it would be good to understand the importance of the ratio.

I think a lot of guys that have trouble are using ratios closer to 2/1.

What is the end of the story? Please give us some microscope pictures if you have them, if not, than we are eagerly waiting for them

Originally Posted by jeness

What is the end of the story? Please give us some microscope pictures if you have them, if not, than we are eagerly waiting for them

Great resurrection, I hadn't seen this before!

So, based on your experiment I can conclude, that if I get a shave ready razor, a strop and a second strop(or the modular strop of SRD) I could mantain that razor in a shave ready condition for a long time, using just pastes to touch it up?

Originally Posted by kiokoidrillow

So, based on your experiment I can conclude, that if I get a shave ready razor, a strop and a second strop(or the modular strop of SRD) I could mantain that razor in a shave ready condition for a long time, using just pastes to touch it up?

Yes, of course. And that could be about 6 months to one year, depending on the razor, you beard, and shave frequency.