Thread: Pasting a strop

I have a question about pasting strops. I've been shaving with a straight for about 4 months now and up until this point I've never used any paste on my strop. Is this something I should be using on a regular basis? I have one razor that keeps a great edge and shaves great consistently while another one seems to not have as good an edge. I'm wondering if it may have a harder steel and needs paste to get a better edge. So far, all I've been using is a leather/linen strop without any paste. I assume, paste is to be used only on the linen side. Or can you use it on both sides? My main question is this...Is paste on a strop something to be used on a daily basis or just once every so often and on the linen or leather? & with some razors and not others? Thanks!

For daily stropping plain leather only and maybe some linen. Pasted strops are for touchups and depending on the kind of paste they can do more than touchups too.

+1 with what thebigspendur said. If you want to use paste the SRD felt hanging strop with diamond spray is very good for stubborn edges or for doing a touch up. Chrom ox can smooth a harsh edge IME. A paddle or flatbed strop is good too.

A piece of aircraft balsa 3x36 cost me $1.92 in a hobby store. I made 4 eight inch balsa hones with diamond paste out of them. Glued them to plexiglas though some like to glue to wood. They don't need lapping as they are flat enough out of the store.

Here is a tutorial on paste by Tony Miller and another here by Josh Earl on pasting a strop. IMO you should never paste your main strop but only use paste as an adjunct once in awhile when necessary.