Thread: Thiers issard paste

I ordered some TI paste that should arrive in a couple days so I can try to keep my blades fresh. Anyway, I do have one question about what I should apply it to. Here's what I have to work with. My strop is a red latigo SRD strop with the poly web for the other half of it. I also have an unused whipped dog poor man strop. What would be the best of these to apply the paste to?

I obviously do not want to apply it to the good side of the SRD strop, and the back of it seems like it would be too rough. I have the webbed fabric but I'm not sure if that's meant to be pasted or not. And if I did apply to one side, would it make the other side "different"?

I'm thinking the whipped dog strop is my best bet, but would the good leather side be too smooth? The back of that strop is much smoother than the back of the SRD, but has a slight amount of drag to it.

Any ideas? Also, from what I understand, this paste would be similar to touching up on a barbers hone (10-12k). If anyone had used it, would you agree?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm still very new. I I just started out a couple months ago, and I'm at that point where I feel the blades could use a bit of a touch up.

Thanks for the help in advance!

Keep any paste away from your everyday strop.

The poly web strop is meant to be used like a canvas or linen strop. It's debatable if you need the poly web, canvas, or linen strop. But since you have it I would say you should use it everyday before your leather strop. I would say do 20 to 40 laps on it before your leather strop.

For the Ti paste I will say the smooth side of you poor man strop will work well. You are correct that it is in the 10k to 12k range. Though it is much closer to 10k.

If you later decide to get a lower grit paste the backside of the poor man strop will work well for that.

When using this paste and any other paste make sure to clean the blade off after you are done using that paste. You always get a small amount of transfer of paste to the blade and you don't want to transfer that to your everyday strop or any other paste you use.

That sounds about like whati was thinking, but wanted to make sure from someone more experienced. I do use the poly we before the leather...usually 20-25, then 50+ on the leather.

For the paste, I didn't think of putting it on the smooth side of the extra strop, then a more harsh paste on the "rough" side of the extra strop. Good tip!

Since I'm scared of hones at this point, I'm hoping the paste(s) will keep things running smooth for a while.

They will I do all my sharpening with paste other then bevel setting.

Though I did experiment with using paste to bevel set with some good results.

Good to know. Just out of curiosity, I have a blade that was recently honed that doesn't seem sharp evenly across the blade. Half is great, the other half a little more dull. Is that something the TI paste may be able to remedy?

Depends did you notice this issue from the start or after using it a couple times?

If you noticed it after using it a couple times I would say it will help for sure.

But before using the paste I would recommend stropping on your web and plain leather more first and concentrate on your technique. Most likely with an issue like that you just are not getting good contact with the strop throughout your whole stropping motion.

The issue was before it was stropped or anything. Fresh out of the mail, so it appears that it may not have been honed as good as it could have unfortunately.

I'm gonna get the TI paste and try it out someday, got the Le Grelot paste.

... and as said, keep your pasted strop away from everything you don't want paste on, it spreads!

well after reading some of the replys I am nervous to say this but, I ordered that exact past from fendrihan and I applied it to the canvas side of my illinois strop. It works fantastic! I do 10-20 passes on the pasted canvas then 40 or so on the leather before each shave and it makes my shaves for smooth. I would have to reccomend trying it.