Thread: Which pastes would you use?

I am planning on getting a Norton 4/8K, and a 2 sided 3" wide paddle strop from Tony for Christmas. Since this will be my gear to keep my razors sharp, and it will be the only stuff I get for a long long time. Answer me these questions three.

Which 2 pastes would be the best step down from the 8K side of the Norton?
Which 2 pastes would keep me away from the hone for longest time?
Which 2 pastes would maintain a sharp but comfortable edge?

I have read several posts here and there about pastes. For instance, I seem to remember Randy prefering Chromium Oxide over Diamond paste; because the edge feels better on his dainty skin using the green stuff. This is the kind of thing I am looking for to base my final paste decision on. Thanks ya bunch of razor freaks.

My quick opinion would be to use 1.0 and 0.5 micron diamond pastes. If I recall correctly 3.0 micron may be similar to the 8K side of the Norton so would be a duplicate, 1.0 would be the next finest step down with 0.5 more than enough for most mortals for a finish shaving edge. Some ant the 0.25 but in most cases it may be overkill, at least with some razors. often it results in the edge needing more frequent touch up than if the 0.5 were used.

Tony

Just get the 1.0 micron diamond paste and keep the other side for daily stropping. Tony's wide paddle strops are great for daily stropping, I recently started using the plain side of mine and I like it nearly as much as a hanging strop, paddles are a lot faster than I remembered (or I've gotten a lot faster, which is more likely).

Randy said that you can even go with 0.5 right off the Norton. In that case, I'd recommend 0.5 and 0.25

Originally Posted by 1adam12

Which 2 pastes would be the best step down from the 8K side of the Norton?

I prefer the 0.5µ and 0.25µ, but I do use a 12k for about 6 laps between the Norton and pastes. It's more exacting to hone that way but I do it because I like a VERY sharp blade.

Originally Posted by 1adam12

Which 2 pastes would keep me away from the hone for longest time?

Probably the 1.0µ and the 0.5µ.

Originally Posted by 1adam12

Which 2 pastes would maintain a sharp but comfortable edge?

I find the 0.25µ quite comfortable since the sharper a blade is, the less pressure I feel like using and as we all know from those funny garbage razor commercials "Before, pressure caused irritation".

All in all I'd suggest the 1µ and 0.5µ as your best direction. If you decide you want to try the 0.25µ at some point in the future that's gravy.

Me? I like gravy!

X

I sent you a PM, with more detail, but I'd say if I could only have 2 pastes, I'd go with .5 diamond and green chrome. The GC is actually rated at about .5 micron as well, but it cuts softer, producing a better shaving edge, IMO. It polishes more than cuts, while the diamond seems to produce a harsher edge, though no less sharp. I've got lots of different compounds, both dry, paste, and liquid, but those two are the two I probably use the most.

Hi 1adam12,

I asked a similar question a while back only about microns verses grits and here is the post if you want the info to help you make your decision.-
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=7501

I prefer DOVO red On one side of the paddle and .5 chrome oxide on the other

Originally Posted by 1adam12

I am planning on getting a Norton 4/8K, and a 2 sided 3" wide paddle strop from Tony for Christmas. Since this will be my gear to keep my razors sharp, and it will be the only stuff I get for a long long time. Answer me these questions three.

Which 2 pastes would be the best step down from the 8K side of the Norton?
Which 2 pastes would keep me away from the hone for longest time?
Which 2 pastes would maintain a sharp but comfortable edge?

I have read several posts here and there about pastes. For instance, I seem to remember Randy prefering Chromium Oxide over Diamond paste; because the edge feels better on his dainty skin using the green stuff. This is the kind of thing I am looking for to base my final paste decision on. Thanks ya bunch of razor freaks.

I would go for 1 and .5 microns. That gives you about 15K and 50K. It's not a bad transition and the .5 will leave the edge beautiful.

As for keeping off the hone, the way you do that is by refreshing the edge when ordinary stropping fails to restore its sharpness (you feel a slight pull). Do a few quick swipes on the 1 and about 10 on the .5 and your refreshed.

There's a reverse relationship between the fineness of the edge and how long it lasts. If you're willing to compromise and not use the .5, your edge should last longer between refreshings. In any case you can go on refreshing indefinitely before serious honing would benecessary.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Randy said that you can even go with 0.5 right off the Norton. In that case, I'd recommend 0.5 and 0.25

Hey, you can do anything. But you'll need a lot more roundtrips on the .5 if you skip the 1 micron.

Randy thinks nothing of doing a 100 roundtrips. That tries my patience. I don't need that many total to restore th edge on most Ebay acquisitions. I find it easier to use a progression of grits that works quickly and efficiently and save the round trips for the end when I'm trying to polish up the edge (I use a .25 paste).

Joe, that was the next question I was gonna ask. So it would take about 100 passes on the 0.5 chromium oxide after the N8k?
As I keep my RAD in check and I won't have to do 100 passes for touchups, I don't mind doing it once in the blade's life-time or once a year at most.